2025 Faculty Promotions

Shuaib Abdullah, M.D., M.S.

Professor, Division of Cardiology
Director, Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging, Dallas VA Medical Center

Dr. Abdullah is a nationally recognized cardiologist and researcher at the VA North Texas Medical Center who specializes in non-invasive cardiology and plays a key role in patient care across intensive care, consult services, and outpatient clinics. As Director of the Echocardiography Lab since 2015, he has overseen its expansion to satellite locations in Fort Worth and Tyler, with the lab performing more than 800 studies per month. He helped launch the VA’s structural heart disease program, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive procedure to replace a narrowed aortic valve; MitraClip, used to repair leaky mitral valves without open-heart surgery; and Watchman, a device implanted to reduce stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Dr. Abdullah has led and contributed to numerous impactful studies, including a VA-funded study on symptom improvement after coronary interventions and a VA MERIT trial extension on prasugrel’s efficacy, both resulting in key publications. His research spans chronic total occlusion interventions, cholesterol risk in low-risk individuals, and cardiac MRI studies, including the SPINS trial. He has authored over 90 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals.

Beyond research, Dr. Abdullah serves as a site principal investigator (PI) for multiple clinical trials, consistently exceeding enrollment goals. He reviews for top cardiovascular journals and has been on the VA North Texas IRB since 2019. In 2023, he joined the national Adjudication Committee for the VA’s TOP trial. He also supports medical education and recruitment through interviews for medical school and fellowship candidates. His achievements reflect a deep commitment to advancing cardiovascular care and research.

Dr. Abdullah joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2010.

Jaime Almandoz, M.D., M.B.A.

Professor, Division of Endocrinology
Medical Director, Weight Wellness Program

Dr. Almandoz is a nationally recognized leader in obesity medicine, dedicating half of his professional time to clinical care through the UTSW Weight Wellness Program, which he founded in 2015. Under his direction, the program has become one of the largest academic obesity medicine programs in the U.S. He is also a respected attending physician in endocrinology at Parkland and Clements University Hospitals. His research, supported in part by National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, focuses on ethnic disparities in obesity care and the impact of socioecological factors. He co-founded the Weight Wellness Research Collaborative during the COVID-19 pandemic, producing pioneering studies on the pandemic’s effects on individuals with obesity.

Dr. Almandoz collaborates on multiple NIH-funded projects, including studies on weight stigma and GLP-1 medication adherence, post-bariatric weight recurrence, and obesity’s role in dementia risk. His work has been published in top journals and cited widely, with his recent review on nutrition and anti-obesity medications receiving significant attention. He serves on advisory boards and governing bodies of major medical societies and has been invited to speak at prestigious institutions and international conferences.

Beyond research and clinical care, Dr. Almandoz plays a key role in supporting underrepresented groups in medicine, including mentoring trainees through the Housestaff Emerging Academy of Leaders (HEAL) professional development program and participating in the institution's LGBTQ Business Resource Group. These contributions reflect his dedication to creating a more supportive environment for all members of the academic and medical community.

Dr. Almandoz joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2013.

Blake Barker, M.D.

Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Associate Dean of Students

Dr. Barker is a nationally recognized clinician-educator whose career has been defined by innovative contributions to medical education, clinical reasoning, and mentorship. At UT Southwestern, he has led transformative curricular efforts, including a longitudinal medical education elective and the “Strive” curriculum, both designed to foster professional identity formation and holistic development. As Associate Dean for Student Affairs, he has mentored hundreds of students, integrating ethics, communication, and wellness into the curriculum while advocating for policies that enhance educational outcomes, such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) documentation reforms.

His scholarly work includes research on diagnostic reasoning and standardized exam performance, guiding clerkship directors nationwide on optimizing Internal Medicine education to support success on rotation and clinical knowledge exams. He also contributed to a collaborative study on blood pressure management in chronic kidney disease highlighting the complexities of real-world clinical interventions.

Dr. Barker is a sought-after faculty development expert, invited to lead sessions across departments and national conferences. His mentorship has shaped a generation of academic educators, many of whom are now in leadership roles, and his mentees frequently present at national meetings. His leadership in the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) includes launching the Bite-Size Teaching Competition and advancing inclusion initiatives, earning him the Southern SGIM Leadership Award.

Dr. Barker joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2011.

Kevin Courtney, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor, Division of Hematology & Oncology

Dr. Courtney is a nationally recognized leader in genitourinary oncology and a highly productive clinical and translational scientist. As Director of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, he leads a team of GU oncologists across multiple campuses, driving excellence in clinical care and research. He co-leads the Genitourinary Oncology Disease Oriented Team (DOT), which consistently ranks among the top Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center DOTs for clinical trial enrollment.

Dr. Courtney's research focuses on novel therapies and cancer metabolism in prostate and kidney cancers. His early work on PI3-K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibition and enzalutamide-radiation combinations helped to lay the groundwork for subsequent phase III studies. Dr. Courtney also played a key role in the development of a new class of drugs that target hypoxia induccible factor 2 alpha (HIF2α), a protein that helps cancer cells survive and grow in low-oxygen environments, a treatment option for metastatic kidney cancer, Von Hippel-Lindau disease, and advanced pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma. His collaborative research within the Kidney Cancer Program has identified mechanisms of resistance and revealed the unique metabolic profile of kidney cancer.

With more than 50 publications, including high-impact studies, his work is supported by major grants such as the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Clinical Investigator Award, the Kidney Cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) Award, and the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant. He chairs the Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee and serves as site PI for an NIH grant supporting UT Southwestern’s role in the NCI’s Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ETCTN).

Nationally, Dr. Courtney is a respected thought leader, serving on committees for the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG/ACRIN), the NCI, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). In 2024, he was appointed to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Conquer Cancer Foundation Grants Selection Committee for a three-year term.

Dr. Courtney joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2012.

James "Brad" Cutrell, M.D.

Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine
Program Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship

Dr. Cutrell is a distinguished faculty member recognized for his leadership in education, clinical care, and antimicrobial stewardship. He has earned numerous accolades, including the 2024 GME Program Director of the Year Award from GME, the 2021 Distinguished Teaching Professor honor, and membership in the Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT), for which he is the immediate past President. He was also recently inducted into the UT System Kenneth I. Shine Academy of Educators in 2025. His contributions have also been acknowledged with the 2022 UTSW Rising Star Award and the 2023 SWAT Outstanding Educator Award.

In addition to his national and regional educational efforts, Dr. Cutrell remains deeply committed to clinical teaching and patient care. He leads the Infectious Disease Clinic on the West Campus and serves on the Infectious Disease Consult service at Clements University Hospital, where he is known for his dedication and responsiveness to patient needs, often expanding his schedule to ensure timely care. He is also the co-director of the annual Update in Internal Medicine continuing education course.

In addition to his clinical and educational roles, Dr. Cutrell is actively involved in institutional leadership, serving on various boards and committees at UTSW and Clements University Hospital. He directs the CUH Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, which has earned Centers of Excellence status from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), underscoring its importance to patient safety and care quality. His expertise in infectious diseases and stewardship has also fueled a robust scholarly career, with publications in top-tier journals and a role as Deputy Editor for Open Forum Infectious Diseases, a leading IDSA journal.

Dr. Cutrell joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2013.

James Daniels, M.D.

Professor, Division of Cardiology
Medical Director, Pacemaker and Defibrillator Clinic

Dr. Daniels is a distinguished leader in cardiac electrophysiology, recognized both regionally and nationally for his clinical expertise, innovative contributions, and dedication to education. He is highly respected by fellows for his ability to teach complex procedures, including advanced ablations and device implantations. His commitment to training is evident through regular lectures and mentorship, having guided numerous fellows and residents in presenting research at prestigious conferences. Dr. Daniels’ clinical skills related to the treatment of arrhythias in adulty patients with congenital heart disease, he receives referrals from across the Southwest for particularly challenging cases. His technical proficiency has earned praise from peers, including being named the top proceduralist by UT Southwestern’s Chief of Electrophysiology.

A pioneer in adopting new technologies, Dr. Daniels led the implementation of leadless pacemakers in the region and contributed to international protocols for same-day discharge. His team was among the first globally to implant dual chamber leadless systems, including groundbreaking cases involving complex cardiac histories. As director of the Pacemaker and Defibrillator Clinic, he has overseen significant growth and operational improvements, including enabling MRI access for device patients and collaborating with the Department of Radiation Oncology to expand treatment options.

Dr. Daniels also maintains a robust research portfolio, serving as PI on multiple clinical trials and collaborating across disciplines to explore novel therapies, such as esophageal cooling and stereotactic radiotherapy for ventricular tachycardia. His expertise in electrogram interpretation has led to roles on international adjudication committees. His growing national reputation is reflected in frequent invitations to lecture globally and his recent appointment to the Heart Rhythm Society’s Ethics Committee.

Dr. Daniels joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2009.

Thomas Gillette, Ph.D.

Professor, Division of Cardiology

Dr. Gillette is a highly respected scientist and mentor at UT Southwestern, known for his deep commitment to education, research, and service. He has played an active role in graduate education, contributing to both the Integrative Biology and Cell and Molecular Biology programs, serving on numerous student committees, and regularly participating in student work-in-progress sessions. He is widely recognized for his generosity with time and expertise, offering guidance on experimental design, grant writing, and career development to trainees and junior faculty alike.

Scientifically, Dr. Gillette has built a strong reputation through his research on the molecular mechanisms of cardiac stress responses. His collaboration with Joseph Hill, M.D., Ph.D., has led to significant discoveries, including the roles of histone-modifying enzymes, the unfolded protein response in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and the FoxO1 transcription factor in cardiometabolic stress. Their development of a murine model for metabolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been particularly important, offering new insights into a growing global health issue and becoming a widely adopted research tool.

Dr. Gillette’s work has been published in top-tier journals and cited more than 7,000 times, reflecting his influence in the field. He has secured over $2.6 million in direct funding as a PI and contributed to major instrumentation grants. Nationally, he serves on key review panels for the American Heart Association (AHA) and NIH. Within the Division of Cardiology, he is a valued colleague and mentor, and his leadership has been instrumental in shaping the Moss Heart Center’s research infrastructure and vision.

Dr. Gillette joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2004.

Saket Girotra, M.D.

Professor, Division of Cardiology

Dr. Girotra had already distinguished himself as a highly skilled interventional cardiologist and an internationally recognized expert in cardiovascular outcomes research at the University of Iowa when he was recruited to UT Southwestern in 2022. Since then, he has continued to make rapid and sustained contributions in clinical care, research, mentorship, and leadership.

As an interventional cardiologist with more than a decade of experience in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), including high-risk procedures involving atherectomy and mechanical coronary interventions, he also holds two active NIH R01 grants, making him one of the few interventional cardiologists in the U.S. with such funding. His work has significantly advanced understanding of cardiac arrest and peripheral artery disease, focusing on epidemiology, characterizing variation in care and outcomes, and identifying racial and ethnic disparities.

His scholarly reputation is further evidenced by his extensive speaking engagements at academic institutions across the U.S. and abroad. He lectures widely on clinical, scientific, and procedural topics and serves on national committees, including the AHA's Clinical Working Group on Resuscitation and the Interventional Cardiology Section of the American College of Cardiology. As a mentor and educator, Dr. Girotra has guided over 25 trainees and junior faculty, many of whom have gone on to prominent careers, and his procedural expertise, particularly in the catheterization lab, has been recognized by colleagues and trainees.

Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc.

Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine

Before joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 2023, Dr. Kelesidis had established himself as a leader in translational and clinical research, particularly in the areas of cardiometabolic syndrome, immunology, and virology, with a strong focus on HIV and SARS-CoV-2 while on the faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 

His research program is distinguished by its ability to generate foundational scientific insights and translate them into meaningful clinical applications. As PI on two NIH R01 grants, a R21 award and industry sponsored research grants, he is doing both basic and clinical research to study the pathogenesis of HIV-associated cardiometabolic disease and respiratory viral infections. His lab utilizes a variety of approaches including ex vivo mechanistic tissue culture models and animal models to model human cardiometabolic and lung disease. He is leading two active clinical trials to optimize cardiometabolic complications of antiretroviral therapy in chronic HIV infection and to explore innovative therapies such as mitoquinone mesylate for SARS-CoV-2 post-exposure prophylaxis—an area of urgent clinical relevance. He also holds seven patents as primary inventor, underscoring his contributions to novel therapeutic development. He has been invited to speak at numerous academic institutions across the U.S., and has served on more that 25 NIH study sections as both reviewer and Chair.

Dr. Kelesidis has built strong research collaborations with colleagues in Germany, Greece, Iran, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, leading to more than 170 scientific publications. Additionally, he has delivered numerous invited lectures abroad, including in South Korea on HDL function in infections, and is actively developing sponsored research agreements with institutions in South Korea and New Zealand to advance novel therapeutics in both chronic HIV infection and other viral infections.

Ellen Kitchell, M.D.

Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine
Medical Director, HIV Clinical Services, Parkland Health
Program Director, HIV Fellowship

A recognized leader in HIV clinical care and research, Dr. Kitchell is deeply committed to educating medical trainees about HIV and expanding the HIV care workforce. As the Program Director of the HIV fellowship she helped establish, she also played a key role in developing a National HIV Residency Pathway, which launched its first residents at UTSW in July 2024. Her compassionate approach to patient care has earned institutional recognition, including UT Southwestern's President’s Award for Diversity and Humanism in Clinical Care and Parkland Hospital’s Physician of the Year.

As Medical Director of HIV Services at Parkland Health, one of the largest HIV clinics in the U.S., Dr. Kitchell has led several innovative initiatives to enhance care and reduce provider burnout. These include Dallas’s first rapid-start antiretroviral therapy clinic, a long-acting injectable therapy clinic, a low-barrier clinic for patients lost to care, and an upcoming anal dysplasia clinic. She also guided the clinic through the mpox epidemic by establishing safety protocols and facilitating access to experimental treatments.

Dr. Kitchell is a strong advocate for clinical research, aiming to improve patient outcomes through new therapies. She serves as PI for the STOMP trial, which studies the efficacy of Tecovirimat for treating mpox, and has participated in numerous industry-sponsored trials to bring cutting-edge treatments to her patients. Her work consistently reflects a singular focus on improving lives through compassionate care, education, and research.

Dr. Kitchell joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2010.

Won Lee, M.D.

Professor, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Medical Director, Clinical Center for Sleep and Breathing Disorders

Dr. Lee is a distinguished educator and national leader in sleep disordered breathing and chronic neuromuscular respiratory failure, providing expert care for complex patients at Clements University Hospital.

Since 2009, he has directed the Sleep and Breathing Disorders Center, expanding it into a robust multidisciplinary team that draws expertise from multiple departments. He and his colleagues also lead a specialized respiratory care program for patients with neuromuscular disorders, delivering comprehensive care that addresses medical, psychosocial, and logistical challenges. Unique in the Southwest, this progrm has been life-saving for hundreds of diverse patients living with chronic respiratory failure.

Dr. Lee's influence extends nationally. He played a central role on a National Academy of Sciences committee on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, helping shape recommendations now under consideration by Congress, to improve care for people (and their families) who are living with ALS.

As an educator, Dr. Lee has made lasting contributions to pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He helped establish an annual simulation training program for internal medicine residents, has held key educational roles in the pulmonary/critical care and sleep medicine fellowships, and, since 2016, served as co-course director for the Respiratory Course in the preclerkship medical school curriculum. Dr. Lee won multiple teaching awards at UT Southwestern, and teaching excellence was recognized with a Regents Outstanding Teaching Award from the University of Texas System.

Dr. Lee joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2008.

Nikhil Munshi, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor, Division of Cardiology
Assistant Director, Physician-Scientist Training Program
Associate Director, Harry S. Moss Heart Center

Dr. Munshi is widely respected for his thoughtful judgment and comprehensive approach on the Cardiology Consult and CCU Services. As an educator, he is known for his ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, including clinicians. His longstanding role as Associate Director of the Cardiology Fellowship Training Program and leadership of the Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) in cardiology reflect his deep commitment to mentoring and training the next generation of physician-scientists.

Recently promoted to Associate Director of the Moss Heart Center, Dr. Munshi now helps guide basic science research efforts within the Cardiology Division. His research focuses on cardiovascular biology with a particular emphasis on the cardiac conduction system (CCS) and cardiac arrhythmias. His lab investigates how cardiac rhythm is established during development and how disruptions in this process lead to arrhythmias. By creating the first comprehensive transcriptional and epigenomic profiles of the CCS, his team has laid the groundwork for personalized cellular therapies and clarified the role of noncoding variants in cardiac conduction. 

Dr. Munshi’s lab also explores pacemaker cell reprogramming, notably enhancing the efficiency of generating functional pacemaker cells through manipulation of the transcription factor Hand2. His team has pioneered the field of CCS regeneration, demonstrating that neonatal hearts possess regenerative capacity following injury—a discovery that may redefine approaches to anti-arrhythmic therapy. Additionally, his group developed a machine-learning algorithm to diagnose cardiomyopathy subtypes based on chromatin accessibility, showcasing his commitment to translational science and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In recognition of his scientific achievements, Dr. Munshi was inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 2024. 

Dr. Munshi joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2011.

Michael Shiloh, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine

Dr. Shiloh leads a research program that is internationally recognized for its groundbreking work on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. As a physician-scientist, he balances clinical care with a robust research agenda, mentorig numerous trainees who have gone on to successful careers.

Dr. Shiloh's research has yielded influential publications in top-tier journals and positioned his lab as an essential center for studying this complex pathogen. A notable discovery from his lab revealed that M. tuberculosis produces two glycolipids that activates neurons to induce coughing, a key mechanism for transmission with broader implications for respiratory infections.

Recently, his lab secured more than $3.9 million in new funding from the NIH/NIAID, including a $3.2 million R01 grant to investigate the role of ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases in host defense against M. tuberculosis, a project that aims to uncover novel mechanisms by which macrophages eliminate intracellular pathogens. Additional grants totaling $651,000 support research into non-tuberculous mycobacteria and host-directed therapies, including a $451,000 R21 grant to advance a “lung-on-a-chip” model of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infection and a $200,000 R43 (SBIR) grant in collaboration with Progenra, Inc., exploring PARKIN agonists as potential host-directed therapies as adjuvants to antituberculosis drugs.

Altogether, Dr. Shiloh’s lab receives over $1.375 million annually in direct research support and continues to expand its funding portfolio. His contributions to NIH study sections, invited lectures, and editorial reviews further underscore his leadership in the field. He is a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases and a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation since 2021. Dr. Shiloh’s work continues to shape the future of infectious disease research and training.

Dr. Shiloh joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2011.

Shannan Tujios, M.D.

Professor, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases
Program Director, Transplant Hepatology Fellowship

Dr. Tujios is a distinguished leader in hepatology, recognized both institutionally and nationally for her contributions to education, clinical care, and research. She teaches across all levels of medical training, from medical students to fellows, and is known for her engaging and effective teaching style. She directed the Annual Update in Liver Diseases conference and has developed a highly regarded curriculum for transplant hepatology fellows, many of whom have gone on to prestigious academic positions. Her bedside teaching is equally impactful, and she plays a key role in clinical education at multiple hospitals.

As Program Director of the Transplant Hepatology fellowship since 2016, Dr. Tujios has successfully recruited fellows and expanded the program, which stands out nationally for its strength and stability. She also organizes several core educational conferences and serves on important committees, including those focused on professional development and educational programs.

Her scholarly work includes numerous peer-reviewed articles, reviews, book chapters, and leadership in clinical trials and NIH-funded research networks. Notably, she authored key chapters on acute liver failure in a leading gastroenterology textbook and contributed to a major meeting summary. As a transplant hepatologist, her efforts have helped grow the liver transplant program significantly. She is also a mentor and role model for junior faculty and is widely respected as a consultant in her field. Nationally, she contributes to organizations such as the American Liver Foundation and the American Society of Transplantation.

Dr. Tujios joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2011.