UNLV Medicine

Pediatric gastroenterology – it is the specialty practiced by Dr. Rabea Alhosh, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics.

Because parents are often concerned and anxious when they bring their child to see a gastroenterologist, a physician specializing on the digestive system, Dr. Alhosh says he spends a lot of time helping parents understand their child’s diagnosis and treatment options.

Dr. Miriam E. Bar-on, is the medical school’s pediatric residency program director. She oversees and administers all of the school’s resident and fellowship programs and also serves as the medical school’s designated institutional official.

Dr. Ovunc Bardakcioglu, an associate professor of surgery at the UNLV School of Medicine, serves as chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Dr. Bardakcioglu, who performs as many as 130 colorectomies per year, was educated in Germany and chose to specialize in colon and rectal surgery during his residency at Beth Israel Medical Center.

He completed a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and added advanced “no scar” minimally invasive surgical techniques to his skill set.

Dr. Richard Baynosa, an associate professor and head of the Section of Breast Surgery at the UNLV School of Medicine, serves as the chief and program director of the Division of Plastic Surgery. He is also University Medical Center’s Chief of Plastic Surgery and MountainView Hospital’s Chief of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Bigcas primary clinical interest is in the treatment of head and neck cancer patients, salivary and thyroid disease, cancer prevention, skull base surgery, robotic surgery, and head and neck reconstruction. He also has clinical interests in other subspecialties of otolaryngology including sinonasal disease, bony and soft tissue facial reconstruction, and facial reanimation.

Dr. John Brosious, an assistant professor of plastic surgery at the UNLV School of Medicine, had the highest score in the country when he took the written exam to become certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Amber Champion is originally from Washington state, but has practiced in Baltimore and Nebraska prior to joining the UNLV School of Medicine. She graduated from The Flinders University School of Medicine of South Australia in 2005. She completed Internal Medicine Residency in Spokane, WA, and Endocrinology fellowship at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Dr. Paul Chestovich, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Surgery, graduated from Purdue University with degrees in chemical engineering and biochemistry prior to receiving his medical degree from Indiana University.

He completed a general surgery residency at UCLA and an acute care surgery fellowship at the  University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. He has an active practice in trauma, critical care, burns, and acute care surgery, and is an active performer of clinical research.

Dr. Michael Daubs, professor and chairman of the Department of Surgery at the UNLV School of Medicine, treats disorders of the neck and back including fractures, herniated discs, stenosis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis and other complex spinal curvatures. He specializes in surgery of the spine in both children and adults.

“I find great satisfaction in connecting with my patients and determining the best treatment for them,” he said. “Every patient is unique and treatment should be individualized.”  

Dr. de Guzman is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and practices general obstetrics and gynecology. His main interests include general obstetrics, family planning, contraception counseling, STD screening and treatment, and gynecological surgical procedures.

Dr. de Guzman worked at the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and its affiliated Harvard University hospitals for the last 3 years prior to joining the UNLV faculty.

Dr. David Di John, an associate professor of pediatrics at the UNLV School of Medicine, is the program director of the UNLV maternal-HIV program. 

He has more than 30 years of experience in research and treatment of pediatric infectious diseases, including clinical care for women, infants, children and youth with HIV/AIDS. 

He directed a pediatric AIDS clinic in New York, taught clinical pediatrics for 18 years at New York University Medical Center, and served as director of pediatric infectious diseases for Flushing Hospital Medical Center in New York.

Dr. Nora Doyle, the UNLV School of Medicine Assistant Dean for Ultrasound Education as well as a professor of maternal fetal medicine, was named in 2017 as one of America’s Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists by the Consumers Research Council of America.  

Rajany V. Dy, MD graduated from the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute, Manila, The Philippines in 2007. She trained in Internal Medicine at the Yale New Haven Hospital and Pulmonary / Critical Care Medicine at University at Buffalo. She specializes in pulmonary diseases and the care of critically ill patients. Her interests include interstitial lung diseases, COPD, ARDS and fluid management in the ICU. Dr.

Tina Elkins, MD, joined the faculty at UNLV Department of Otolaryngology in 2018. Prior to moving to Las Vegas, she was the primary owner of a successful general ENT practice in Athens, Texas since 2005. While serving a surrounding community of approximately 75,000, she treated many ENT conditions such as difficulty breathing due to septal deviation or tonsil enlargement, chronic sinusitis, allergies, ear infections, throat infections, hearing loss, thyroid masses, skin cancers and head and neck cancer. She enjoys being able to work with all ages, newborn to geriatric.

John Fildes, MD, FACS, FCCM, FPCS (Hon) is Professor and Inaugural Chair of the Department of Surgery at the new UNLV School of Medicine (UNLVSOM). He established the first AAST approved fellowship in Acute Care Surgery in the nation and he continues to function as its Program Director.  

Mitchell D. Forman, D.O., is an Osteopathic physician and the Founding Dean and Professor of Medicine at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. During that period of time he also had a busy part-time Rheumatology practice at Touro. He retired as the Dean of Touro’s Medical School in 2016 to practice Rheumatology in the Touro Clinic. He is currently Dean Emeritus and Professor at Touro University Nevada.

Wade Gaal, MD, CAQSM, Assistant Professor Family and Community Medicine received his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine after receiving his BS in Biochemistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

He completed his specialty training at the University of Nevada School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency program followed by fellowship at the University of Nevada School of Medicine Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship.

He is board certified in Family Medicine with certification of additional qualifications in Sports Medicine.

Dr. Mario J. Gaspar de Alba is responsible for the evaluation and treatment of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities for the UNLV Ackerman Autism Center and Neurodevelopment Solutions. He also assists the UNLV School of Medicine to achieve and maintain a diverse faculty and student body, which in turns creates a culture of inclusion among patients and throughout the entire school.

Irene is a psychiatric nurse practitioner that has spent her career treating patients at Mojave Counseling with severe and persistent mental illness. She worked at Mojave as a student nurse and returned to start her career there.

Dr. Badrunnisa Hanif, MD, FACP, Board Certified in Internal Medicine since 2002 is an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine. She was graduated from Sindh Medical College in Karachi, in 1996, and completed her residency training in 2002 from the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

Dr. Angelica Honsberg, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, graduated from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia. 

She completed her internal medicine residency at Thomas Jefferson University and a pulmonary fellowship at the University of Arizona. 

Dr. Honsberg is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Kenneth E. Izuora, an associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, believes it is vital that he uses his education to “make an impact on people’s lives.”  

A graduate of the University of Nigeria Faculty of Medicine, he is board certified by the American Board of Internal medicine. Fellowship trained at Emory University in Atlanta, he specializes in endocrinology.

Dr. Jayaraj earned his medical degree from Stanley Medical College, Chennai, Inda. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency training at University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas. He completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Jayaraj’s clinical interest include prevention of colorectal cancer by screening and surveilance colonoscopy, general hepatology and bariatric endoscopy. 

Dr. Stepanie Jones, an assistant professor of pediatric surgery at the UNLV School of Medicine, is a board-certified general and pediatric surgeon. 

She specializes in the surgical care of infants and children.

Dr. Jones completed her general surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts and her pediatric surgery fellowship at the University of Colorado. She completed additional training in surgical oncology and immunotherapy at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Dr. Oriaku A. Kas-Osoka, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, is one of the few Southern Nevada physicians who specializes in adolescent medicine.

With an educational background that includes a fellowship in adolescent medicine from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Kas-Osoka appreciates that working in academic medicine allows her to work with both patients and students.

Dr. Mutsumi Kioka, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, is board certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

A graduate of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, he completed a residency at the University of Southern California and a fellowship through Wayne State University.  

Dr. Deborah Kuhls, a professor of surgery and chief, section of critical care in UNLV School of Medicine’s Division of Acute Care Surgery, is a trauma surgeon who is board certified in general surgery and critical care. She also is the program director of the UNLV School of Medicine’s Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program and medical director of University Medical Center’s Trauma Intensive Care Unit.  She has a passion for teaching medical students, residents, and fellows.

Dr. Steven Lampinen (Family Practice) is a home grown LasVegas boy.

He graduated from Las Vegas High, UNLV, University of Nevada, School of Medicine and did his residency at University Medical Center.

He has maintained his private practice in Las Vegas since 1998, as well as teaching at UNLV School of Medicine residency program and Touro School of Medicine.

He is a former chief of Staff at Mountain View Hospital and still sits on several committees there.

Dr. Adam V. Levy, an associate professor and director of the division of family planning in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, has research projects underway in pelvic rehabilitation, family planning and pain control for outpatient surgery. 

Dr. Kevin Mailland, an assistant professor with the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine, has been actively involved in the U.S. Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program that provides screening to Nevada Test Site workers who may have been exposed to radiation. 

Dr. John Menezes, an associate professor with the UNLV School of Medicine, is the only fellowship-trained –Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine —  craniofacial surgeon in Las Vegas.

Among his areas of expertise are cleft lip and palate repair, craniosynostosis, ear reconstruction, microsurgery, and adult and pediatric facial trauma.

Dr. Joseph Nagan, an osteopathic physician who underwent fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the UNLV School of Medicine, where he is now an assistant professor of internal medicine in the pulmonary and critical care division, practices his specialty of  high acuity critical care at University Medicine Center. 

Born in San Francisco, he did his undergraduate work at the University of California at San Diego and worked for two years as an EMT after graduation. 

Dr. Alison Netski, an associate professor and chair of the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, specializes in the treatment of adults with a broad range of psychiatric illness, including mood, psychotic, and anxiety disorders.


Board certified from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, Dr. Netski attended the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine and completed her residency in psychiatry at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt.  

Dr. Matthew Ng, an associate professor at the UNLV School of Medicine, is also residency program director for the otolaryngology-head & neck surgery residency training program. He specializes in otology-neurotology and lateral skull base surgery.

Specializing in otology-neurotology, Dr. Ng treats all forms of hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic ear infection, cholesteatoma, facial nerve disorders, dizziness, and imbalance, as well as tumors of the lateral skull base. 

Dr. Gordon Ohning, a professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, graduated from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Iowa and a fellowship in gastroenterology from UCLA. 

After 30 years as a professor at UCLA — he also was a prolific researcher with the CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center there — Ohning said the opportunity to help create the new UNLV School of Medicine was too good to pass up. 

Dr. Charissa A. Olson, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, has had her research published on women’s chronic pelvic pain in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management. 

A graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, she completed her residency at Wright State University School of Medicine in Ohio. 

Dr. Helen Onoriode, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, has had research on surgeon behavior published in the Journal of American College of Surgery. 

She received her medical degree from St. George’s University and completed a residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brookly, NY in general and high risk OB/GYN, minimally invasive gynecology and family practice. 

In 2015 she was awarded a Brunschwig Fellowship at Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. David Parks, a pediatric pulmonologist and associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, believes that patient education and establishing rapport with patients and their families are essential to the art of medicine.

For asthma patients, he developed a two-page “asthma action plan” that details what they should do while living with asthma, how to use an inhaler, and the actions to take when different symptoms arise.

Dr Jahan Z Riaz is a graduate of Quaid-e-Azam Medical College,Pakistan. He did Internal Medicine Residency Training at St Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Riaz has worked as a Hospital Medicine Specialist at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Pine Bluff, Arkansas and the Veterans Hospital, that is also in Little Rock. He has served as a part-time Clinical Instructor at the University Of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor and Attending Physician at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine.

Dr. Aron Rogers, an associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine,  left a private practice in Las Vegas with 2000 patients for the opportunity to teach. 

Dr. Syed F. Saquib, an assistant professor of trauma and critical care at the UNLV School of Medicine, works at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, primarily in trauma, burns and critical care.

Heavily involved in UMC’s Lions Burns Care Center, he works closely with fellows, residents, and students in providing the best patient care possible.

Dr. David Savarese, an associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, was director of a community health center in Connecticut that offered medical care, behavioral health care and dental health care to children and their families who were traumatized by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting in Newtown, Conn. That tragedy took the lives of 20 children and six adults.

Dr. Rebecca Scherr,an associate professor of pediatrics at the UNLV School of Medicine, is the division chief of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition. 

She is also vice chief of pediatrics at University Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Nevada. 

Dr. Scherr treats patients with general GI concerns as well as complex issues including inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease and patients requiring nutritional support.

Dr. Joseph Shea, M.D. specializes in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Family Medicine.

He most recently completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology through the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Medicine where he also obtained advanced Family Medicine Obstetrics fellowship training.

His prior residency training in Family Medicine was completed through the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Gary Shen, an assistant deal of clinical education at the UNLV School of Medicine, is also an associate professor of surgery and associate program director for the general surgery residency program at the medical school. 

A graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine, he completed his general surgery residency training at the University of Arizona, and his transplant fellowship in Stanford University.

Dr. Aditi Singh, an associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, is associate medical director of the internal medicine residency program. 

A graduate of the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine, she cares for patients in the areas of preventative medicine, diabetes, hypertension management and women’s health. 

Director of ambulatory education in the internal medicine program, Dr. Singh is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. 

Brandon T. Snook, MD, FACS

General Surgery, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care

Dr.  Snook, an associate professor with the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Surgery, is a trauma surgeon who is board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care.

A graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, he completed surgical residency with the US Air Force at Keesler Medical Center in Mississippi, and went on to do an acute care surgery fellowship at the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine.

Dr. Susanna Sorrentino, a specialist in genetics, has joined the UNLV Medicine Pediatric Center. She comes to Southern Nevada from California, where for two years she was the Valley Children’s Hospital Director of the Cancer Genetics Program and Director of the Cardio Genetics Program. Valley Children’s is an educational affiliate of Stanford University.

Dr. Sorrentino sees patients and teaches medical students/residents. She serves as the section chief for genetics and is an assistant professor of pediatrics with the UNLV School of Medicine.

Dr. Charles St. Hill, an assistant professor with the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Surgery, has pursued research in cancer surgery/clinical trials program development.

A graduate of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, he offers clinical trials for patients who fit the criteria for certain studies. “We’ve done several sponsored clinical trials that have helped patients who don’t have the resources, which help to advance the research while offering more options for patients.”

Dr. Mark Suhany, an associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, attended the University of Missouri School of Medicine. 

He completed a residency in psychiatry from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas. 

Board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, he is a former president of the Nevada Psychiatric Association. 

Dr. John Varras, is a professor and the chair of the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine. He attended medical school at Creighton University in Nebraska, where he also completed his residency. 

He is the former chair for the department of internal medicine at the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. Under his leadership, the department of internal medicine expanded the size of the residency training program and started three new fellowships in cardiology, gastroenterology, and pulmonary and critical care.

Dr. Robert H. Wang completed his medical school education at the University of Alabama in Birmingham after he finished his graduate school education at the University of New Mexico with a PhD degree in immunology. 

He then received his OB/GYN residency training at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock.  After his training, Dr. Wang engaged in his solo practice in Houston for several years before he relocated to Las Vegas.  

Dr. Robert Wang, a professor, and chair of otolaryngology at the UNLV School of Medicine has more than 30 years of experience in dealing with conditions of the ear, nose, and throat and related structures of the head and neck.

With expertise in head and neck cancer treatment, Dr. Wang runs the sole head and neck tumor board in Las Vegas, partnering with Dr. Oluwafunmilola Okuyemi who performs the reconstruction.  Dr. Wang performs robotic-assisted as well as laser surgery for cancers.

Dr. David Weismiller, a professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine, is known nationally for educating his colleagues through many learning activities and venues. 

He has developed and presented continuing education courses to physicians through the AAFP “Board Review Express Course Series” since 2005. He also has educated colleagues through an AAFP webcast series covering multiple topics, ranging from geriatrics and primary care to treatment of blood cholesterol and sports concussions.

Dr. Jonathan Wirjo, an associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, received his medical degree from Western University Health Sciences. 

He completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. 

Board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Wirjo  is chair of psychiatry at Mountain View Hospital. Dr. Wirjo treats patients on the psychiatry consultation service at UMC hospital.

Dr. Ryan A K Young, an assistant professor in the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, graduated from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. 

He completed his OB/GYN residency at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Upon completion of his residency training, he joined the School’s Faculty and is now currently an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Medicine.