David A. Matson, DO
Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
David A. Matson, DO, is the interim academic chair of the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine. He has been a faculty member at Drexel since 2020. He also serves as the chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and the associate designated institutional official for graduate medical education (GME) for Reading Hospital. A dedicated medical educator, Dr. Matson was the program director for Reading Hospital’s Anesthesiology Residency program from 2019 to 2022. He has also spent many years as the medical student/rotation coordinator for the Department of Anesthesiology at Einstein and serves as a clinical preceptor for Einstein’s certified registered nurse anesthetist program.
Mauricio Reginato, PhD
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mauricio Reginato, PhD, is a professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. He is also director of the Graduate Program in Cancer Biology. Dr. Reginato earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. His research interests include the molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer growth, survival and spread to distinct organs, in particular how cancer genes alter metabolic pathways and how these pathways may be exploited to target cancers.
Erum N. Ilyas, MD ’01, MBE
Dermatology
Erum N. Ilyas, MD ’01, MBE, is the interim academic chair of the College of Medicine's provisional Department of Dermatology. She has been a faculty member at Drexel since 2016 and served as the Dermatology Pathway director since 2021. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation, the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology and the Philadelphia Dermatological Society.
Richard Hamilton, MD
Emergency Medicine
Richard Hamilton, MD, is a professor and academic chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. He started his medical career as a U.S. Naval flight surgeon and received his Wings of Gold in 1989. From there he went on to be the chief of medical operations at the Naval Air Development Center. He is interested in acceleration physiology as well as centrifuge training of commercial space flight participants. He is the chief medical officer for the NASTAR Center (www.nastarcenter.com) and spearheaded the training of a number of astronauts.
Susanna Evans, MD
Family Medicine
Susanna Evans, MD, is an associate professor and Hamot Endowed Chair of the Department of Family, Community & Preventive Medicine. Prior to joining Drexel, Dr. Evans served as medical director for Montgomery Family Ob/Gyn Center and Montgomery Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Center in Norristown. Susanna Evans, MD, FAAFP, is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Philadelphia. Dr. Evans has a clinical interest in women's health, preventive medicine, physician wellness, and medically underserved populations.
Cecilia M. Smith, DO
Medicine
Cecilia M. Smith, DO, is professor and interim academic chair of the Department of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. Trained in pulmonary and critical care medicine, Dr. Smith is the chair of the Department of Medicine at Reading Hospital, Tower Health. A graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, she completed her residency in internal medicine at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital. She completed her pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Upon completion, she joined the faculty of the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine where she advanced to professor of medicine. Her primary area of specialty was interstitial lung diseases and lung transplantation, including serving in the role of the medical director of the Lung Transplant program. Dr. Smith became the medical director of UCSD Medical Center, and associate dean for medical center affairs (graduate medical education), supporting medical education programs including approximately 600 trainees in all specialties of graduate medical education.
Brian Wigdahl, PhD
Microbiology & Immunology
Brian Wigdahl, PhD, is a professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, and director of the institute’s Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience. The research efforts of the department and institute center on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious, oncogenic and inflammatory disease. An internationally recognized molecular virologist, Dr. Wigdahl focuses his research on the molecular mechanisms, treatment and prevention of immunologic abnormalities, cancer and progressive neurologic disorders caused by members of the retrovirus family.
Itzhak Fischer, PhD
Neurobiology & Anatomy
Itzhak Fischer, PhD, is a professor and chair of the Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy. His NIH-supported research focuses on the development of cellular and molecular strategies to promote the regeneration and recovery of function in the injured spinal cord. He has been with Drexel and its predecessor institutions since 1991. Prior to that, he was an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School.
Erol Veznedaroglu, MD
Neurosurgery & Neurology
Erol Veznedaroglu, MD, who has served as the Robert A. Groff Chair of Neurosurgery at the College of Medicine since 2015, is also serving as interim chair of neurology. Erol Veznedaroglu, MD, or Dr. Vez, is one of the nation's most innovative and experienced vascular, dual-trained neurosurgeons. Dr. Vez is also chair of Global Neurosciences Institute, LLC (GNI), leading a team of some of the nation’s most experienced neurosurgeons specializing in comprehensive care including vascular, tumor, spine and functional neurosurgery, as well as a consortium of neuroscience physicians providing subspecialty neurology and comprehensive pain management clinical services. He previously served as director of the Division of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.
Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, MEd, MPPM
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, MEd, MPPM, is a professor and academic chair in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a master’s in education from California State University Long Beach. She then served as a critical care instructor and nurse educator for several years until she matriculated at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine for her MD. After postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynecology at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, and Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, she became a general practitioner at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. She joined the faculty of Magee Women’s Hospital for eight years, during which time she also served as program director of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Department of Global Health and Reproductive Sciences.
Martin J. Herman, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Martin J. Herman, MD, is a professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics, and interim chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He is also the current surgeon-in-chief; section chief of orthopedic surgery director for the Orthopedic Surgery In-training Exam Review Course; and the Orthopedic Surgery Pathway director at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. Dr. Herman attended Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons after completing his undergraduate degree at Harvard University. He received post-graduate education in general and orthopedic surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, then completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at University of Tennessee – Campbell Clinic.
Robert Sataloff, MD
Otolaryngology
Robert Thayer Sataloff, MD, DMA, is a professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and senior associate dean for clinical academic specialties. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, adjunct clinical professor at Temple University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and is on the faculty of the Academy of Vocal Arts. He has served as conductor of the Thomas Jefferson University Choir for nearly four decades. Dr. Sataloff is also a professional singer and singing teacher.
Cheryl Hanau, MD
Pathology
Cheryl Hanau, MD, is professor and Richard Shuman, MD, Chair of the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. Before her appointment as chair, Dr. Hanau served the College of Medicine in a number of other key positions, most recently as associate dean for admissions, and program director of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Residency.
Renee Turchi, MD, MPH
Pediatrics
Renee Turchi, MD, MPH, FAAP, is professor and academic chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine, and professor in the Department of Community Health and Prevention at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health. She is the medical director of the Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, where she oversees a primary care practice dedicated to children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), including a fetal alcohol spectrum disorders program/NICU primary care follow-up program and grants. Her research and clinical work around care coordination, maternal/child health, and children and youth with special health care needs have been presented and published in multiple national forums.
Olimpia Meucci, MD, PhD
Pharmacology & Physiology
As a tenured professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Olimpia Meucci, MD, PhD, actively contributes to the educational and research missions of the College's graduate and medical schools. She also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. Dr. Meucci is one of the co-directors of the Temple/Drexel/UPenn training grant “Interdisciplinary and Translational Research Training in NeuroAIDS” (NIH-MH079785), and is director of the Center of Neuroimmunology and CNS Therapeutics, which is part of the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases.
Wei Du, MD
Psychiatry
Wei Du, MD, is a professor and academic chair of the Department of Psychiatry. He holds a secondary appointment as professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology. Dr. Du provides lectures on the psychopharmacology of depression and anxiety, and serves on the graduate student thesis committee. He is also involved in medical student education, providing lectures on schizophrenia and the neurobiology of depression and anxiety. In 2018, he began a two-year term as the secretary of the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society. He has previously served as medical director of the clinical research program and lead psychiatrist for the Center of Excellence in Addiction Treatment at The Horsham Clinic in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
Mark Trombetta, MD
Radiologic Sciences
Mark Trombetta, MD, FACR, FACRO, is a professor and interim academic chair in the Department of Radiologic Sciences at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Trombetta is nationally and internationally known for his work in making radiation treatments easier, less toxic and more effective for cancer patients. A radiation oncologist at Allegheny Health Network’s Cancer Institute, he has led the health network in the development of numerous new treatment modalities and innovations. A longtime leader at the AHN Cancer Institute, he currently serves as System Director of Clinical Programs; Department of Oncology, and leads the department’s breast cancer, cardiac radiation and brachytherapy programs.
Linwood R. Haith Jr., MD
Surgery
Linwood R. Haith Jr., MD, has been a faculty member of the College of Medicine for more than 40 years and is currently professor and academic chair in the Department of Surgery, as well as associate dean of external affairs. A dedicated clinician and educator, Dr. Haith has been named to Philadelphia magazine’s Top Docs list annually since 2014, and he received the Teacher of the Year award from the Crozer-Chester Department of Surgery in 2020. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Critical Care Medicine.