Fifteen members of the Department began the academic year with a promotion in rank. Congratulations to all!
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
Dr. Trey Clark
Dr. Donald “Trey” Clark, III was promoted to Professor of Medicine. Dr. Clark earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and completed residency and chief residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, followed by cardiology fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Clark also holds a Master of Public Health from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Since joining the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases in 2017, Dr. Clark has held several leadership roles, including the Medical Director for Remote Patient Monitoring for the Center for Telehealth and Cardiology Fellowship Program Director. He has represented the institution at the national level, being selected to serve on the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Prevention Leadership Council, ACC Scientific Session Prevention Session Planning Committee, and ACC Hypertension Committee. He has been a recipient of the Trailblazer Teaching Award. Dr. Clark has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including first-author papers in high-impact journals, including JAMA Cardiology, the European Heart Journal, and the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Dr. John “Clark” Henegan
Dr. John “Clark” Henegan was promoted to Professor of Medicine. Dr. Henegan earned his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and completed residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham followed by hematology and oncology fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. As the leading GU oncologist in Mississippi, Dr. Henegan has developed and directs a comprehensive GU Oncology program at UMMC, advancing access to cutting-edge therapies, including the introduction of Pluvicto, the first therapy of its kind offered in the state. He has expanded multidisciplinary cancer care through innovative clinical programs, satellite clinics, and outreach efforts that improve access for patients across Mississippi, including rural and underserved communities. A distinguished educator and mentor, Dr. Henegan has earned recognition for his teaching excellence, including the Trailblazer Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education. He currently is the Associate Director for Clinical Research for the Cancer Center and Research Institute. Dr. Henegan has served as the principal investigator or co-investigator on 23 clinical trials while contributing impactful research in cancer outcomes and health disparities.
Dr. Rahat Noor
Dr. Rahat Noor was promoted to Professor of Medicine. Dr. Noor earned his medical degree from Aga Khan University and completed internal medicine residency at William Beaumont Hospital. Since joining faculty in 2016, Dr. Noor has been involved at many institutional and departmental levels, and has obtained a Master of Science in Population Health from the John D. Bower School of Population Health. Dr. Noor practices as a hospitalist and serves as Co-Chair of the Documentation Education Team, and has served on UMMC’s Medical Executive Committee as well as the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. He was also chosen to serve on the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (SSCI) Governance Committee. Dr. Noor is an Associate Program Director for the internal medicine residency program and is heavily involved in education. He directs the quality improvement curriculum of the residency program and serves as the Director of the Research Track. He has received a School of Medicine Trailblazer Teaching Award and the Gold Humanism Society Leonard Tow Award, was named School of Medicine Clinical Professor of the Year, and has been inducted into UMMC’s Academy for Excellence in Education.
Dr. Pradeep Vaitla
Dr. Pradeep Vaitla was promoted to Professor of Medicine. Dr. Vaitla earned his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in India. He completed his internal medicine residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, followed by fellowships in nephrology at Ochsner Clinic Foundation and transplant nephrology at Emory University. Dr. Vaitla joined the faculty in 2016 as the Living Kidney Donor Program Director. Currently, he serves as the interim Division Director of Nephrology, Medical Director for Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, and Nephrology Fellowship Program Director. His leadership expanded UMMC’s transplant access through innovative outreach, telehealth, and paired donor exchanges, significantly increasing kidney transplantation volumes and living donor transplantations. Dr. Vaitla is an accomplished clinician, educator, and researcher, with more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, over $2.6 million in research funding, and numerous leadership roles at the institutional, regional, and national levels.
Dr. Lyssa Weatherly
Dr. Lyssa Weatherly was promoted to Professor of Medicine. Dr. Weatherly earned her medical degree, completed internal medicine residency, and served as Chief Resident at the University of Mississippi Medical Center before completing a fellowship in geriatric medicine. Since joining the faculty in 2017, she has become a highly respected clinician-educator and leader within the department and institution. Dr. Weatherly serves as Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program and School of Medicine Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. She also is a Co-Director of the Internal Medicine Clinician Educator Track. She has held numerous institutional, regional, and national leadership roles, including service on UMMC’s Admissions Committee and Medical Student Promotions Committee and as a member of the USMLE Communication Test Development Material Committee. Recognized for her outstanding commitment to medical education and mentorship, Dr. Weatherly has received numerous teaching honors, including Clinical Professor of the Year, Department of Medicine Teacher of the Year, the Trailblazer Award for Excellence in Medical Education, and induction into UMMC’s Academy for Excellence in Education as well as the Nelson C. Order.
TENURE
Dr. Kevin Sullivan
Dr. Kevin Sullivan was granted tenure in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Sullivan earned his PhD in Psychological Sciences from the University of Maine and completed a Master of Public Health degree and a T32 fellowship in the Epidemiology of Aging at the University of Pittsburgh. Since joining the faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, he has established himself as a nationally recognized leader in aging, neuroepidemiology, and Alzheimer’s disease research. Dr. Sullivan serves as Principal Investigator for multiple NIH-funded multicenter clinical trials and provides scientific leadership for the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study and the MIND Center’s Neuroepidemiology Research Core. He has authored more than 57 peer-reviewed publications, including first-author manuscripts in JAMA and Neurology, and has played a key role in advancing research on cognitive aging and dementia. In recognition of his outstanding scholarship and mentorship, Dr. Sullivan has received numerous honors, including the MSTAR Mentor of the Year Award, while continuing to train the next generation of aging researchers.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Dr. Mohammad Atari
Dr. Mohammad Atari was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Atari earned his medical degree from Damascus University and completed internal medicine residency at Jordan University, followed by fellowships in nephrology and transplant nephrology at Tulane University. Since joining the faculty in 2021, he has become an integral member of the Division of Nephrology, providing exceptional inpatient, outpatient, and transplant nephrology care. Dr. Atari serves on UMMC’s Living Donor Selection and Kidney & Pancreas Selection Committees and has implemented innovative clinical practices, including the use of point-of-care ultrasound and standardized care checklists to enhance patient safety. He is an active educator and mentor to medical students, residents, and fellows, with his mentorship leading to numerous scholarly presentations and publications. In recognition of his outstanding clinical excellence and dedication to education, Dr. Atari was named the Department of Medicine Master Clinician in 2024, Poster Mentor of the Year in 2025 and 2026, and Teaching Faculty of Year in the Division of Nephrology in 2026.
Dr. David Cretella
Dr. David Cretella was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Cretella earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed postgraduate residency training in pharmacy practice and infectious diseases pharmacy at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Since joining UMMC in 2015, he has been a key leader in the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, where his efforts have improved the care of thousands of patients, reduced unnecessary antibiotic use, and helped save the health system millions of dollars. Dr. Cretella serves as Co-Chair of UMMC’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and has developed more than 40 institutional treatment protocols to improve the management of infectious diseases. He is an outstanding educator for infectious diseases fellows, pharmacy residents, medical residents, and pharmacy students and has maintained an active record of scholarship through numerous publications and national presentations. His leadership has played a vital role in advancing antimicrobial stewardship, patient safety, and quality improvement across UMMC.
Dr. Ashish Gummadi
Dr. Ashish Gummadi was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Gummadi earned his medical degree with honors from Osmania Medical College and completed internal medicine residency at Rochester Regional Health System, followed by a fellowship in nephrology at Temple University Hospital. Before joining the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2023, he served for eight years on the faculty at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was Hospital Medicine Consult Service Director. Since joining UMMC, Dr. Gummadi has become a valued clinician-educator, consistently providing exceptional patient care while leading quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and care transitions. He serves on UMMC’s Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and Wellbeing Committee. In recognition of his commitment to education and mentorship, Dr. Gummadi has earned outstanding evaluations from trainees and continues to make meaningful contributions to resident and medical student education.
Dr. Yanglin Guo
Dr. Yanglin Guo was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Guo earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College and completed internal medicine residency and pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, followed by an interventional pulmonology fellowship at New York University. Since returning to UMMC in 2023, he has established himself as a leader in Interventional Pulmonology and now serves as Section Co-Chief. Dr. Guo has expanded UMMC’s advanced pulmonary program by introducing robotic bronchoscopy and other innovative procedures that have transformed lung cancer diagnosis and treatment while more than doubling pulmonary endoscopy volume. He is an outstanding clinician, educator, and mentor, earning recognition with a School of Medicine Trailblazer Teaching Award. Through his clinical expertise, educational leadership, and contributions to research and innovation, Dr. Guo has played a pivotal role in advancing pulmonary and critical care medicine at UMMC.
Dr. Tulip Jhaveri
Dr. Tulip Jhaveri was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Jhaveri completed internal medicine residency at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, followed by fellowships in infectious diseases at Tufts Medical Center and medical microbiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Since joining the faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2021, he has become a highly productive clinician and leader within the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Jhaveri established UMMC’s Travel Medicine Clinic, serves as Co-Chair of the MRSA Decolonization Committee, and has played a key role in quality improvement initiatives that have significantly reduced hospital-acquired infections. He is an outstanding educator for medical students, residents, and fellows, while maintaining an active record of scholarship through numerous publications, clinical trials, and editorial leadership. In recognition of his clinical excellence, Dr. Jhaveri was elected Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Dr. Alejandro Lemor
Dr. Alejandro Lemor was promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Lemor earned his medical degree with high honors from Universidad de San Martin de Porres and completed a Master of Science in Clinical Research before pursuing internal medicine residency training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He then completed fellowships in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at Henry Ford Hospital, where he served as Chief Fellow. Since joining the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2022, Dr. Lemor has become a nationally recognized leader in interventional cardiology and now serves as Director of the Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (CTO PCI) Program. He has expanded access to advanced coronary interventions and has developed best practices for the management of cardiogenic shock for the institution. An exceptional educator and mentor, Dr. Lemor founded the annual Mississippi Shock Symposium and has earned national recognition for his clinical expertise and leadership, including the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions 30 in Their 30s Award and designation as a Young Leader by Cardiovascular Research Technologies.
Dr. Bobby Owens
Dr. Bobby Owens was promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Owens earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and joined the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2004, where he has provided more than 20 years of outstanding service to the institution. Over his career, Dr. Owens has held key clinical and leadership roles in critical care pharmacy, central pharmacy operations, and the development of the UMMC operating room pharmacy program, where he led initiatives focused on medication safety, stewardship, and quality improvement. Since joining the Department of Medicine in 2019, Dr. Owens has become an essential member of the inflammatory bowel disease care team, helping hundreds of patients access complex therapies while contributing significantly to the success of the program. A dedicated educator and mentor, he has trained generations of pharmacy students, residents, and gastroenterology fellows and has also contributed to clinical research through involvement in gastroenterology trials.
Dr. Bushra Syed
Dr. Bushra Syed was promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Syed earned her medical degree from Aga Khan University in Pakistan before completing internal medicine residency training at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and nephrology and transplant nephrology fellowships at the Cleveland Clinic. She joined the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2020 and has become an essential leader within the Division of Nephrology and the state’s only kidney transplant program. As one of only four transplant nephrologists at UMMC, Dr. Syed has been instrumental in advancing transplant care through the development of clinical protocols, quality improvement initiatives, and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve outcomes for transplant recipients. She currently serves as Director of the Living Kidney Donor Program and provides critical outreach care to patients across Mississippi through transplant clinics in Grenada and Hattiesburg. Dr. Syed has trained medical students, residents, and fellows, developed board review education for internal medicine graduates. She has also made significant scholarly contributions with numerous peer-reviewed publications, national and international presentations, and a book chapter on kidney transplantation.
Dr. Maria Clarissa Tio
Dr. Maria Clarissa Tio was promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Tio earned her medical degree from Duke – National University of Singapore Medical School, followed by internal medicine residency at University of Texas Southwestern and nephrology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital -Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She also earned a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Since joining the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2021, Dr. Tio has established herself as a nationally recognized physician-scientist in nephrology, with a focus on the intersection of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. As a Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research (MCCTR) scholar, she has led numerous funded research projects totaling nearly $1 million, with impactful work presented nationally and internationally and published in leading nephrology journals, including the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. A dedicated educator and mentor, she serves as Associate Program Director for the Nephrology Fellowship.
Progress Notes 