New VP&S Faculty

The VP&S Office of Faculty Affairs has provided this list of full-time faculty who have recently joined the medical school:

• Xhesika Begaj, MD, Pediatrics, is an instructor in pediatrics (critical care).
• Omar Chehab, MD, Medicine, is an instructor in medicine (cardiology).
• Ahmed M. Elshafie, MBBS, Medicine, is an instructor in medicine (cardiology).
• Fatima A. Estrada Trejo, MD, Ob/Gyn: Estrada Trejo, is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology who specializes in the care of women with high-risk pregnancies, including those with medical complications and fetal anomalies. Her primary clinical and research interests include prenatal diagnosis, sonographic evaluation of fetal and placental malformations and fetal echocardiogram.
• Czarina T. Faldu, MD, Medicine, is an instructor in medicine (nephrology).
• Moustafa Gabr, PhD, Radiology: Gabr, associate professor of radiological sciences, is an internationally recognized scientist whose work spans molecular imaging, chemical biology, immunopharmacology, and translational therapeutics. His research focuses on the discovery and development of small-molecule diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and immune-mediated disorders, with a particular emphasis on advancing next-generation immunotherapies and molecular imaging probes. As director of molecular imaging and therapeutics research, Gabr will help expand the department’s translational imaging and theranostics portfolio by advancing cutting-edge molecular imaging technologies.
• George F. Gombas, MD, Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine: Gombas is chief medical officer at Helen Hayes Hospital and a double-board-certified physiatrist with more than 35 years of clinical and leadership experience. He has a longstanding commitment to advancing community health and a history of confident, compassionate care.
• Diana Gregoriou, MD, Emergency Medicine: Gregoriou is an assistant professor of emergency medicine.
• Nader Hashweh, MD, Psychiatry: Hashweh is an assistant professor of psychiatry.
• Mark Brett Hellerman, MD, Medicine: Hellerman, an instructor in medicine, is a cardiologist specializing in advanced cardiovascular imaging, with interests in cardiac PET, CT, and MRI, as well as the application of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to improve cardiovascular diagnostics and patient care.
• John Kim, MD, Urology: Kim, an instructor in urology, joins Columbia as a fellow in endourology. His research and clinical interests focus on advanced endoscopic and minimally invasive surgeries for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and kidney stones.
• Neslihan Dilruba Koseoglu, MD, Ophthalmology: Koseoglu is an instructor in ophthalmology and a Foley Clinical Vitreoretinal Fellow.
• Nicholas R. Kurek, MD, Medicine: Kurek is an instructor in medicine (cardiology).
• Eric Ho Tak Lam, DO, Medicine: Lam, assistant professor of medicine, specializes in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, with clinical interests in sleep-disordered breathing, noninvasive ventilation, and critical care ultrasound. His research focuses on the cardiovascular consequences of sleep disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea and comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA). He is interested in using clinical and quantitative approaches to identify meaningful sleep phenotypes, better understand cardiovascular risk, and improve personalized care for patients with sleep disorders.
• Alison B. Laxer, MD, Pediatrics: Laxer, an instructor in pediatrics, is a fourth-year advanced pediatric neurogastroenterology and motility fellow. 
• Wasla Liaqat, MBBS, Medicine: Liaqat is an instructor in medicine (cardiology).
• Emilia J. Ling, MD, Emergency Medicine: Ling is an assistant professorf of emergency medicine.
• John McCarthy, MD, Pediatrics: McCarthy is an instructor in pediatrics (oncology).
• Aislinn Katherine McMillan, MD, Emergency Medicine: McMillan, an instructor of emergency medicine, is the Global Emergency Medicine Fellow.
• Molly Oser, MD, Medicine: Oser is an instructor in medicine (general medicine).
• Ann W. Plum, MD, Otolaryngology: Plum is an assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology and a board-certified pediatric otolaryngologist with a sub-certification in complex pediatric otolaryngology. Her clinical and research interests are on congenital and acquired disorders of the pediatric airway.
• Shruti Ramachandra, MD, Medicine: Ramachandra is a hospitalist and instructor in medicine (Allen Hospital).
• Paul Rezkalla, PhD, Medicine: Rezkalla is an assistant professor of medical ethics interested in flourishing, character development, and medical technology. He is passionate about mentoring students and facilitating civil discourse on pressing bioethical issues. 
• Roland Scott Vaca, MD, Emergency Medicine: Vaca is an assistant professor of emergency medicine.
• Yaacov S. Weiss, MD, Medicine: Weiss is an assistant professor of medicine (cardiology).