FACULTY

+ Chief Academic Officer

Arun Kumar Dubey,MBBS, MD

dubeymd@xusom.com

Dr. Arun Kumar Dubey is a Physician, Clinical Pharmacologist and an Administrator by training. After completing his MBBS degree from Guwahati Medical College in India, Dr. Dubey completed three years of Residency in Clinical Pharmacology at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).

+ Interim Dean of Nursing

Kevin Pawlak,PhD

kpawlakphd@xusom.com

Dr. Kevin Pawlak received his Ph.D in Biology from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. He was nominated for a Teaching Assistant award twice, first in 2005 and again in 2006. He has numerous publications and has given many presentations, and has served as a supervisor to many students.

+ Assistant Professor of Anatomy

Manisha Hansda,MBBS, MD

mhansdamd@xusom.com

Dr. Manisha Hansda received her M.B.B.S. and her M.D. from Lady Hardinge Medical College in India. She has served as a delegate for a number of conferences, workshops, and training programs, and has organized a number of these events as well.

+ Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology

Diana C. Wever-Salcedo,MD

Dr. Weaver-Salcedo is currently a Director and Psychologist at MIND+, a company located in Aruba. She graduated from Leiden University in 2007 with her Bachelors in Psychology and then in 2008 she graduated with her Masters in Occupational Health Psychology from Leiden University. Since 2013 she has been an active member of the organizing committee o the Professional Woman Network.

+ Assistant Professor of Bio Chemistry and Genetics

Jeremy Laurence Rae,PhD

jraephd@xusom.com

Dr. Jeremy Laurence Rae holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University Of Otago (N.Z.), an adult teaching qualification, and has been teaching in the biological sciences for over 14 years. He has worked in New Zealand, Australia and the UAE. Dr. Jeremy Laurence Rae’s PhD concerned the characterization of an enzyme and its corresponding gene from infectious bacteria. For his post-doc he helped develop a vaccine against a bacterial infection in livestock which was later patented.

+ Associate Professor of Chemistry

Jacques Odryzynski,

jodryzynski@xusom.com

Professor Odryzynski received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida. He has since received A+ and MCP certification. Professor Odryzynski worked previously as a process engineer for Valero Energy Corporation. In 2007, he started teaching at Xavier University School of Medicine. He began with parts one and two of general chemistry, working to help each student understand and apply chemistry. Professor Odryzynski has since taught organic chemistry, pre-calculus, and physics as well. He is also a facilitator for PBL (Problem-Based Learning) for those respective subjects.

+ Assistant Professor of Bio Chemistry and Genetics

Jeremy Laurence Rae,PhD

jraephd@xusom.com

Dr. Jeremy Laurence Rae holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University Of Otago (N.Z.), an adult teaching qualification, and has been teaching in the biological sciences for over 14 years. He has worked in New Zealand, Australia and the UAE. Dr. Jeremy Laurence Rae’s PhD concerned the characterization of an enzyme and its corresponding gene from infectious bacteria. For his post-doc he helped develop a vaccine against a bacterial infection in livestock which was later patented.

+ Professor of Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Physical Diagnosis (ICMPD)

Neelam Dwivedi,MBBS,DO, DNB

neelammd@xusom.com

Dr. Dwivedi is a trained Surgical Ophthalmologist. After finishing her M.B.B.S. at Jhansi Medical College in India, she completed her two-year Diploma in Ophthalmology at Manipal Academy of Higher Education. She went on further to complete three years of residency training at Icare EYE Hospital.

+ Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Zaheeb Choudrhy,MD

Dr. Choudhry graduated from Free University Medical School in Amsterdam in 2010. He then went on to do a number of Fellowships at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam including a Fellowship in Clinical Immunology and in transplant nephrology and interventional nephrology. Currently he works at Horacio Oduber Hospital in Aruba as an Internist and a Nephrologist.

+ Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Kareem Alijaf,MD

+ Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Stefanie Lubbes,MD

Dr.Lubbes graduated from Amsterdam University with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. She also has graduated from Twente University with a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Medicine and Gronigen University with a degree in Medicine. She is a medical doctor at Horacio Oduber hospital in Aruba in the Emergency Medicine department.

+ Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Niloufar Rahim,MD

Dr. Rahim attended Leiden University Medical school. She worked at Kabul University since 2014 as a clinical skills trainer for Medical students. Currently Dr.Rahim works at Horacio Oduber Hospital in Aruba as a Junior Doctor in the department of emergency medicine. Dr. Rahim is a part of the KEIHAN Foundation which is a platform for students and young professionals to support and implement projects in the field of education, integration and development cooperation in the Netherlands and Afghanistan.

+ Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Rhiannon Blanchette,MD

Dr. Blanchette received her Bachelors and Masters in Medicine from Maastricht University. Currently she works at Horacio Oduber Hospital in Aruba in the Acute care department. Dr. Blanchette has knowledge in 5 different languages: Dutch, English, German, French, and Spanish.

+ Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

Chris Franca,MD

Dr. Franca is a Gastroenterology and Hepatolgy Consultant at Horacio Oduber Hospital in Aruba, with a specific training and interest in advanced endoscopy and hepatolgy. He graduated Cum Laude with his medical degree from Vrije University in Amsterdam. Dr. Franca is fluent in 4 Languages; Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento, which is his native language.

+ Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

J.M. Kuipers,MD

+ Lecturer of Microbilogy

Joseph Jillwin,PhD

jjosephPhD@xusom.com

Dr. Joseph Jillwin graduated from Kasturba Medical College at Manipal University with his M.Sc in 2009. In 2019 he earned his PhD in Medical Microbiology from P.G.I.M.E.R IN Chandigarh. In 2018 he was a Demonstrator in Medical Microbiology at the Government Medical College & Hospital in Chandigarh. Dr. Jillwin has also worked at the Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh as a Senior Research Fellow.

+ Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience

Virginia De Frías,PhD

vdefriasphd@xusom.com

Dr. Virginia De Frías received her Bachelor’s in Science with a major in Bio Chemistry in 1986, and in 1999 she received her PhD in Basic Science with a focus in Pharmacology, from Universidad Central de Venezuela. From 1999 to 2018 she was a professor of physiology to undergraduate students at Universidad Central de Venezuela. She has also been a professor of Pharmacology in post graduate studies at Central University of Venezuela from 2002 – 2018. She was also the Professor of Neuroscience to students in the Residency programs of Neurology and Psychiatry from 2005 – 2013.

+ Assistant Professor of Pathology

Dr. Amit Bhoge,

Graduated from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nasik, India. Completed M.D in Pathology from SKN medical college, Pune, India. Previously worked as Assistant lecturer at LTMC medical college and Hospital. Also Gained experience in Clinical hematology in Hemat-Oncology department of Bombay Hospital and Medical college, Mumbai.

+ Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience

Virginia De Frías,PhD

vdefriasphd@xusom.com

Dr. Virginia De Frías received her Bachelor’s in Science with a major in Bio Chemistry in 1986, and in 1999 she received her PhD in Basic Science with a focus in Pharmacology, from Universidad Central de Venezuela. From 1999 to 2018 she was a professor of physiology to undergraduate students at Universidad Central de Venezuela. She has also been a professor of Pharmacology in post graduate studies at Central University of Venezuela from 2002 – 2018. She was also the Professor of Neuroscience to students in the Residency programs of Neurology and Psychiatry from 2005 – 2013.

+ Interim Dean of Nursing

Kevin Pawlak,PhD

kpawlakphd@xusom.com

Dr. Kevin Pawlak received his Ph.D in Biology from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. He was nominated for a Teaching Assistant award twice, first in 2005 and again in 2006. He has numerous publications and has given many presentations, and has served as a supervisor to many students.

+ Chair of Curriculum Committee, Associate Professor of Physiology

Gopikumar Shivaramaiah,MBBS, MD

gshivaramaiahmd@xusom.com

Dr. Kumar earned his M.B.B.S. from Bangalore Medical College in Bengaluru. Following that, he received his M.D. in Physiology from Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital. He is a life member of two scientific organizations: Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India (APPI) and Indian Medical Association (IMA).

+ Dr. Azad Anand

Dr. Azad Anand,

Special Assistant to the President of XUSOM

Diagnostic Radiology Specialist

+ Bryan Wallace McEachern

Bryan Wallace McEachern,MD, FAAP

CEO and Director

Children’s Health Care Center of Northern Virginia

+ Adam Barihama

Adam Barihama,MD

Medical Superintendent/Director

Gushegu District Hospital, Ghana

+ Daniel F. Catanzaro

Daniel F. Catanzaro,PhD, MBA

President and Founder

CardiaGen Life Sciences

+ David Oren Kessler

David Oren Kessler,MD, MSc, RDMS, FAAP

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

Director of Clinical Operations- Pediatric Emergency Medicine Division, Columbia University Medical Center

+ Hugh McLaughlin

Hugh McLaughlin,MD

Professor of Pathology

Lecturer in Pathology, National University of Ireland (Retired)

+ Kenneth Alonso

Kenneth Alonso,MD, FACP

Clinical Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Morehouse School of Medicine

Atlanta, Georgia

+ Lauren Alise Peccoralo

Lauren Alise Peccoralo,MD, MPH

Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine

Mount Sinai School of Medicine

+ Michael B. Alexander

Michael B. Alexander,MD, FACC

Medical Director
CIGNA HealthCare
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

+ R. Kishore Kumar

R. Kishore Kumar,MD, MBBS

Senior Neonatal Pediatrician

Chairman and MD

+ Siddhartha Ganguly

Siddhartha Ganguly,MD, FACP

Director, Pediatric Aero-digestive Center, Children’s Hospital Boston

Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

+ Satish Babu

Satish Babu,MD

Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery

+ Susan Coffey Zern

Susan Coffey Zern,MD

Director of Simulation Education

Christiana Care Health System

+ T.K. Sreepada Rao

T.K. Sreepada Rao,MD, FACP

Professor of Medicine

Downstate Medical Center, New York

+ Umakanth Khatwa

Umakanth Khatwa,MD

Director, Pediatric Aero-digestive Center, Children’s Hospital Boston

Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School