Faculty Spotlight

Each faculty we spotlight has been selected from recent nominations we received from our department chairs, center directors, and educational leadership.

Introduction

Kiki Nissen, M.D.

Senior Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs
Associate Dean, Graduate Medical Education

Spring 2026 Series

Rebecca Riba-Wolman, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics and director of the Glycogen Storage Disease Program & Disorders of Hypoglycemia at Connecticut Children’s and UConn Health. She is celebrated for her visionary leadership in transforming the program into a rapidly growing, research-driven center that expands patient care, advances clinical trials, and delivers groundbreaking therapies for children with complex metabolic disorders. She was nominated by Dr. Michael Isakoff.

Kourosh Parham, MD, PhD

Kourosh Parham, M.D., Ph.D., is professor in the Department of Surgery. He is honored for his steady, inspiring leadership of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Residency Program that has grown into a highly regarded, high‑performing training experience marked by exceptional outcomes and strong recruitment. His dedication is continually recognized, most notably in 2025 when he was honored by residents to receive the Gerald Leonard, M.D. Award for Excellence in Resident Teaching and Advocacy. He was nominated by Dr. Kevin Staveley-O’Carroll.

Yazeed S. Maghaydah, MD, CMD, FACP

Yazeed S. Maghaydah, M.D., CMD, FACP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine. He is recognized for spearheading UConn Health’s rollout of groundbreaking Alzheimer’s diagnostic testing and treatment, Lecanemab therapy, which has been accessed by nearly 100 patients. His leadership earned him a board appointment with the Connecticut Alzheimer’s Association and an invitation to present internationally. He was nominated by UConn Center on Aging’s Dr. George Kuchel and Dr. Patrick Coll.

 

Fall 2025 Series

Spring 2025 Series

Fall 2024 Series

Jenna Bartley, Ph.D., assistant professor of immunology, is honored for her two major R01 grant awards from the NIH, ranging from laboratory research to a clinical trial involving aging in older adults. She promotes health, function, and independence in older adults by testing varied geroscience-guided interventions. She was nominated by Dr. George Kuchel and Dr. Anthony Vella.

Sangamesh Kumbar, Ph.D.

Sangamesh Kumbar, Ph.D., professor of orthopedic surgery, is honored for his highly cited research regarding developing innovative biomaterial and micro-nanostructured implants to repair and regenerate tissue injuries, placing him among the top 2% of the most-cited scientists globally. He was nominated by Dr. Ernesto Canalis.

Shakaib Khan, MD

Shakaib Khan, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, and his team are honored for receiving national recognition as a Center of Excellence from the Huntington’s Disease Society of America for the development of a multidisciplinary program that simplifies access to necessary multidisciplinary care. He was nominated by Dr. David Steffens.

Thomas Manger, MD, Ph.D.

Thomas Manger, MD, Ph.D., professor of medicine, is honored for making a significant impact on the education of medical and dental students fostering a rigorous but supportive learning environment. He developed content threads to improve integration with preparation, an assessment tool, and implemented new conferences to improve student understanding. He was nominated by Dr. Melissa Held and Dr. Christine Thatcher.