Faculty and Administration
Skilled and credentialed medical educators
UMHS faculty share a love of teaching and are fully committed to each student’s success. They are all highly credentialed and recruited primarily from the U.S. and Canada.
Each faculty member was selected because of their unique academic medicine capabilities. Team members include seasoned practitioners who transitioned from private practice to academic medicine, and veteran educators who have spent their entire careers focused on providing the finest instruction to medical students. Regardless of background, most of the faculty have years of academic experience and have achieved the rank of full professor.
Unlike many other Caribbean schools, UMHS provides students with a personalized education. We achieve this by maintaining a small school environment to ensure an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Our 96% student retention rate is one of the highest in the Caribbean, partly due to the faculty's support services, including advisement, counseling, tutoring, and mentoring.
We have created an academic environment where students can flourish and accomplish their dreams by providing the best faculty, exceptional resources, and the tools to succeed.
Faculty related blog posts
St. Kitts Administration
![Sudhir Ambati](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Sudhir_Ambati.jpg)
Sudhir Ambati,
M.B.B.S., MPH
Dean of Student Affairs, Course Director of Epidemiology and Evidence-based Medicine, Professor of Preclinical Science
![Dr Craig Ayre](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr_Craig_Ayre_bio.png)
Craig Ayre,
B.Ed., Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Associate Professor of Molecular Sciences
![Dr. Shivayogi Bhusnurmath](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr.%20Bhusnurmaths_UMHS_bio.png)
Shivayogi Bhusnurmath,
M.B.B.S., MD Pathology, FRCPath (London, UK)
Dean of Basic Sciences, Professor of Pathology
![Norma Ann Celestine](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Norma_Ann_Celestine.jpg)
Norma Ann Celestine,
M.L.S., B.A., A.H.I.P.
Director of Library Educational Applications, Assistant Professor of Library Research
![Ruth FitzGerald](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Ruth%20FitzGerald.png)
![David Graham](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/David_Graham.jpg)
![Dr. Neilal Isaac](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/neilalisaac.png)
Neilal Isaac,
M.D., MMEd
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Assistant Professor, Pre-clinical Sciences and Simulation Lab Director
![Mohan Kumar](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Mohan_Kumar_UMHS_bio-2.png)
Mohan Kumar,
M.D., M.B.B.S.
Director of Maine Integrated program, Course Director of ICM I (St. Kitts), ICM II (Maine), Chairman of Pre-Clinical Program - St. Kitts
![Caroline Liburd](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Caroline-Liburd.jpg)
Caroline Liburd
Housing Director
![Prakash Mungli](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Prakash_Mungli.jpg)
Prakash Mungli,
M.D., M.B.B.S.
Associate Dean, Chairman of Molecular Sciences, Course Director and Professor of Biochemistry
![Ayodeji O. Olujohungbe](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Ayodeji%20O.%20Olujohungbe.png)
![Edwin Purcell](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Edwin_Purcell.jpg)
![Dan Vitalo](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/danvitalo.jpg)
Dan Vitalo,
B.A.
Vice President of Facilities
![Sherisse Wallace](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Sherisse%20Wallace%20UMHS.png)
![Dr Cherrilyn Crawford](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr%20Cherrilyn%20Crawford.png)
St. Kitts Faculty
![Rada Alexandrescu](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Rada%20Alexandrescu%20UMHS.jpg)
![Mira Ali](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Mira%20Ali%20UMHS.png)
![Sudhir Ambati](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Sudhir_Ambati.jpg)
Sudhir Ambati,
M.B.B.S., M.P.H.
Dean of Student Affairs, Course Director of Epidemiology and Evidence-based Medicine, Professor of Preclinical Science
![Dr. Anand](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr.%20Anand.jpg)
![Dr Jiji Aravindakshan](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr-Jiji-Aravindakshan.jpg)
![Janak Awasthi](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Photo%20Janak%20Awasthi.jpg)
![Dr. Craig Ayre](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr_Craig_Ayre_bio.png)
Craig Ayre,
B.Ed., Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Associate Professor of Molecular Sciences
![Dr. Bhusnurmaths](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr.%20Bhusnurmaths_UMHS_bio.png)
Shivayogi Bhusnurmath,
M.D. Pathology, M.B.B.S., FRCPath (London, UK)
Dean of Basic Sciences, Professor of Pathology
![Norma Ann Celestine](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Norma_Ann_Celestine.jpg)
Norma Ann Celestine,
M.L.S., B.A., A.H.I.P.
Director of Library Educational Applications, Assistant Professor of Library Research
![Dr Gareth Davies](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr%20Gareth%20Davies.png)
Gareth Davies,
Ph.D.
Professor and Course Director of Immunology, Professor and Course Director of Genetics
![Arun Dhakal](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Arun%20Dhakal.png)
![Lata Gowda](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Lata_Gowda.jpg)
![Dr Veera Gowda](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr%20Veera%20Gowda.png)
Veerabhadra Gowda,
M.B.B.S., M.D., D.C.C.P.
Professor of Pharmacology, ICM & Physical Diagnosis
![Cavelle Hobson](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/cavelle-hobson.jpg)
![Neilal Isaac](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/neilalisaac.png)
Neilal Isaac,
M.D., MMEd
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Assistant Professor, Pre-clinical Sciences and Simulation Lab Director
![Anoop Kumar Jalan](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Anoop_Kumar_Jalan.jpg)
![Yogitha Jalan](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Yogitha-Jalan.jpg)
![Molly Johannessen](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/molly%20johannessen%20headshot.png)
Molly Johannessen,
Ph.D.
Director of Education and Teaching, Associate Professor of Physiology
![Dr Frank Jones](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Faculty-Profile-photo-Dr-Frank-Jones.jpg)
Frank Jones,
Ph.D.
Course Director of Medical Cell Biology and Professor of Molecular Sciences
![Dr Ashok Kumar](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr%20Ashok%20Kumar.png)
![Mohan Kumar](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Mohan_Kumar_UMHS_bio-2.png)
Mohan Kumar,
M.D., M.B.B.S.
Director of Maine Integrated program, Course Director of ICM I (St. Kitts), ICM II (Maine), Chairman of Pre-Clinical Program - St. Kitts
![Dr Neeraj Kumar](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr%20Neeraj%20Kumar.png)
![Dr Peter Lee](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Faculty-Dr-Lee-facultybio.jpg)
![Thomas McCracken](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Thomas_McCracken.jpg)
![Lori Montross](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Lori%20Montross%20UMHS.png)
![Prakash Mungli](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Prakash_Mungli.jpg)
Prakash Mungli,
M.D., M.B.B.S.
Associate Dean, Chairman of Molecular Sciences, Course Director and Professor of Biochemistry
![Jagadeesh Nagappa](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Jagadeesh_Nagappa.jpg)
Jagadeesh Nagappa,
M.B.B.S., D.F.M.
Professor and Course Director of Physiology, Director of Accelerated Review Program
![Natalie Osborne](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Natalie%20Osborne.png)
![Edwin Purcell](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Edwin_Purcell.jpg)
![Ms Jane Pringle](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Ms%20Jane%20Pringle.png)
![Avinash Rawal](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Avinash%20Rawal%2c.png)
![Bichara Sahely](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/bichara_sahely.jpg)
Bichara S. Sahely,
B.Sc. (Hons), M.D., M.B.B.S., DM (UWI)
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
![Dr Pinakini Shankar](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Dr%20Pinakini%20Shankar.png)
![Angela Waigand](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Angela%20Waigand_UMHS.png)
![Luisa Veloz](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Luisa%20Veloz.png)
Luisa Veloz,
M.D.
Assistant Professor of Preclinical Science
Assistant Professor of Preclinical Science
![Frank Wagner](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Frank_Wagner.jpg)
Portland, Maine Administration
![Mohan Kumar](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Mohan_Kumar_UMHS_bio-2.png)
Mohan Kumar,
M.D., M.B.B.S
Director of Maine Integrated program, Course Director of ICM I (St. Kitts), ICM II (Maine), Chairman of Pre-Clinical Program - St. Kitts
![Molly Johannessen](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/molly%20johannessen%20headshot-1.png)
Molly Johannessen, Ph.D.
Director of Education and Teaching, Director of the Biological Basis of Clinical Medicine course, Associate Professor of Physiology
![Donna Thompson](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Donna_Thompson.jpg)
Donna Thompson,
M.D.C.M.
Associate Dean of Clinical Sciences, Professor of Clinical Medicine
![Robertson Heather](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Robertson_Heather_UMHS_bio.png)
Heather Robertson, MHS, PA-C
Director of ICM II Clinical Skills Lab & Preceptorship Program
![Matthew Michaud](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/Michaud_UMHS_bio.png)
Matthew Michaud, ND, M.A.
Director of Maine Operations, Associate Director of Academic Support and Learning Development
![Jovana Kakuca](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/J.Kakuca_UMHS_bio.png)
Jovana Kakuca,
B.S.
Educational Services
![Julie Rice](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/julie%20rice.png)
Julie Rice,
B.A.
Program Coordinator and Facilities Manager
Portland, Maine Faculty Preceptors
- David Burke, MD
- Alison Daigle, DO
- Thomas Morrione, MD
- Louis Di Salvo, MD
- Minda Gold, MD
- Lisa Lucas, DO
- Aaron Perrault, MD
- Annamarie Pond, MD
- Joanna Rulf, DO
- Karen Saylor, MD
- Diane Zavotsky, MD
- Bethany Picker, MD
- Stephen Saylor, PA-C
- James Gillen, PA-C
Portland, Maine Campus Faculty
- Mohan Kumar, MD
- Teresita Maguire, MD
- Bruce Kenney, DO
- Margaret Shepp, MD
- Patrice Thibodeau, MD
- Shannon Deschenes, DO
- Marly Biermann, MD
- Sandra Harris, MD
- Laurin Koskinen, MD
- Alfred Riel, MD
- Shapir Rosenberg, MD
- James Schneid, MD
- Judith Ziegler, DO
- David Burke, MD
- Elizabeth Morgan, MD
- Shannon Hanna, PsyD
- Mark Alexander, DO
- Lisa Parsons, DO
CSL Instructors
- Heather Robertson, MHS, PA-C
- Jay R. Souder, APRN
- Kevin Ball, NRP
- Kathy Johnson, NRP
- Tom Lafferty, NRP
- Stella Collin
Clinical Administration
![George Shade Jr](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/George_Shade_Jr.jpg)
George H. Shade Jr., M.D.
Dean of Clinical Science, Clinical Chair, Professor of Clinical Medicine
![Steve Caplan](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/stevecaplan-1.jpg)
Steve Caplan, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Pediatrics
![Charles Herrick](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/charlesherrick-1.jpg)
Charles Herrick, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Psychiatry
![Robert Levine](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/robertlevine.jpg)
Robert Levine, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Family Medicine
![Elizabeth Morgan](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/elizabethmorgan.jpg)
Elizabeth Morgan, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Surgery
![Khalid Zakaria](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/zakira.jpg)
Khalid Zakaria, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Internal Medicine
Board of Trustees
![George Shade Jr](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/George_Shade_Jr.jpg)
George H. Shade Jr., M.D.
Dean of Clinical Science, Clinical Chair, Professor of Clinical Medicine
![Steve Caplan](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/stevecaplan-1.jpg)
Steve Caplan, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Pediatrics
![Charles Herrick](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/charlesherrick-1.jpg)
Charles Herrick, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Psychiatry
![Robert Levine](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/robertlevine.jpg)
Robert Levine, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Family Medicine
![Elizabeth Morgan](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/elizabethmorgan.jpg)
Elizabeth Morgan, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Surgery
![Khalid Zakaria](https://www.umhs-sk.org/hubfs/zakira.jpg)
Khalid Zakaria, M.D.
Clinical Chair, Chief of Internal Medicine