Department of Medicine
About the Department of Medicine
We are charting a new course to push the boundaries of progress and distinction in internal medicine.
Department Chair
James K. Liao, MD, FACP, FACC
Chair, Department of Medicine
The Robert S. and Irene Flinn Endowed Chair in Medicine
Professor, Medicine
Member, Sarver Heart Center
Member, Graduate Faculty
Clinical Specialties
General Cardiology
Non-Invasive Cardiology
Preventive Cardiology
Vascular Medicine
Vice Chairs
Joseph S. Alpert, MD
Professor, Medicine
Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences
Vice Chair for Appointments & Promotion, Department of Medicine
Member of the Graduate Faculty
Christian Bime, MD, MSc
Associate Professor, Medicine
Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences (CTS) Graduate Program
Medical Director, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Banner - University Medical Center Tucson
Janet L. Funk, MD
Professor of Medicine
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Medicine
Professor of Nutritional Science
Member, BIO5 Institute
Clinical Instructor, Pharmacy Practice-Science
Mathew Hutchinson, MD, FACC, FHRS
Interim Chief, Division of Rheumatology
Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology Program, Banner – University Medical Center Tucson
Vice Chair, Clinical Operations, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine – Tucson
Clinical Specialties
Cardiology
Electrophysiology
Complex Heart Rhythm Disorders
Atrial Fibrillation
Ventricular Tachycardia
Laura E. Meinke, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Clinical Scholar
Associate Vice Chair, Office of Education, Department of Medicine
Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Tucson Campus, Department of Medicine
Serena Jain Scott, MD, MBA
Associate Professor, Medicine - (Clinical Scholar Track)
Vice Chair, Faculty Development, Department of Medicine
Amy N. Sussman, MD
Clinical Professor, Medicine
Program Director, Nephrology Fellowship
Internal Medicine Clerkship Director, Department of Medicine
Vice Chair of Education, Department of Medicine
Tejo K. Vemulapalli, MD
Associate Professor, Medicine
Chief, Division of Inpatient Medicine
Vice Chair for Quality and Safety (Inpatient), Department of Medicine
Divisions Chiefs
Clara N. Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD
Chief, Division of Dermatology
Professor, Medicine (Dermatology)
Program Director, Dermatology Residency Program
Co-Director, University of Arizona Skin Cancer Institute
Director, Multidisciplinary Cutaneous Oncology Program, University of Arizona Skin Cancer Institute
Director, Pigmented Lesion Clinic, University of Arizona Skin Cancer Institute
Member, University of Arizona Cancer Center
The Alan and Janice Levin Family Endowed Chair for Excellence in Cancer Research
Mindy J. Fain, MD
Chief, Division of Geriatrics, General Internal Medicine and Palliative Medicine
Co-Director, University of Arizona Center on Aging
The Anne and Alden Hart Endowed Chair in Medicine
Professor, Medicine
Associate Professor, Nursing
Oleh Haluszka, MD
Clinical Professor, Medicine
Associate Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Mathew Hutchinson, MD, FACC, FHRS
Interim Chief, Division of Rheumatology
Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology Program, Banner – University Medical Center Tucson
Vice Chair, Clinical Operations, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine – Tucson
Clinical Specialties
Cardiology
Electrophysiology
Complex Heart Rhythm Disorders
Atrial Fibrillation
Ventricular Tachycardia
James K. Liao, MD, FACP, FACC
Chair, Department of Medicine
The Robert S. and Irene Flinn Endowed Chair in Medicine
Professor, Medicine
Member, Sarver Heart Center
Member, Graduate Faculty
Clinical Specialties
General Cardiology
Non-Invasive Cardiology
Preventive Cardiology
Vascular Medicine
Lawrence J. Mandarino, PhD
Chief, Division of Endocrinology
Professor, Medicine
Director, UAHS Center for Disparities in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Juanita Merchant, MD, PhD
Regents Professor
Professor, Medicine
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Research Member, Cancer Biology Program, University of Arizona Cancer Center
Associate Director for Basic Sciences, University of Arizona Cancer Center
Sairam Parthasarathy, MD
Chief, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Director, Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences, University of Arizona Health Sciences
Medical Director, Center for Sleep Disorders, Banner – University Medical Center Tucson
Professor, Medicine
Merri L. Pendergrass, MD, PhD
Clinical Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Professor, Medicine - (Clinical Scholar Track)
Clinical Professor, Pharmacy Practice-Science
Director, Adult Diabetes Program
Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Cardiology
Director, Sarver Heart Center
Professor, Medicine
Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO
Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
Professor, Medicine - (Tenured)
Associate Director of Clinical Investigations, University of Arizona Cancer Center
Bekir Tanriover, MD, MPH, MBA, FAST
Chief, Division of Nephrology
Professor, Medicine - (Clinical Scholar Track)
Tejo K. Vemulapalli, MD
Associate Professor, Medicine
Chief, Division of Inpatient Medicine
Vice Chair for Quality and Safety (Inpatient), Department of Medicine
Ernest R. Vina, MD, MS
Associate Professor, Medicine - (Clinical Scholar Track)
Associate Chief, Division of Rheumatology
Program Director, Rheumatology Fellowship
Office of the Chair
Crystal N. Escobar
Executive Assistant, Office of the Chair, Department of Medicine
Carlos David Mogollon
Communications, Media Relations & Digital Content Manager
Administrative Staff
Mary F. Gosciminski
Program Manager, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Tucson Campus, Department of Medicine
M. Monique Murillo
Health Care Partner
Clinical Associate Director
Monica Rodriguez
Clinical Associate Director
Health Care Partner
