Tracey Straker, MD | Montefiore Medical Center | Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology
Term: April 2022 – September 30, 2027
Dr. Tracey Straker is a Professor of Anesthesiology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an Attending Physician at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. She attended a 7year BS/ MD program – Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, based at City College in Harlem, New York. She graduated from New York Medical College with a combined MD and MPH in Medical Administration.
She completed her Master’s in Science in Health Information Technology from Georgetown and completed her CBA in Business Administration from Northwestern through the American Society for Anesthesiologists. She serves as the Vice Chair of Clinical Operations Anesthesiology, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Officer Anesthesiology, Director of General Anesthesiology, and the Director of the Advanced Airway Fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center. She also holds the rank of Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine at CUNY School of Medicine in New York City.
She presently serves as the Speaker of the House in the New York State Society for Anesthesiologists (NYSSA), President Elect for the Anesthesia Section of the National Medical Association and Immediate Past President of the Society for Head and Neck Anesthesia (SHANA). She serves as the Chairwoman of the Committee of Diversity and Inclusion at the Society for Education in Anesthesia (SEA). She serves as the Director of the American Society for Anesthesiology Mentoring Grant and serves on the Professional Diversity committee of the American Society for Anesthesiologists. She has authored several publications, presented at multiple international and national meetings, and serves as Editor of textbooks.
Her passion is linear mentorship. I genuinely believe in giving back, but more importantly, getting people to a place where they can give back, and sponsor. It is so extremely important to extend a hand and elevate people. As you lift people, you are lifted as well.
Millicent King Channell, DO, MA, FAAO, FNAOME | Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan-Virtua SOM)
Term: October 2023 – September 29, 2029
Millicent King Channell, DO, MA, FAAO, FNAOME is a graduate of PCOM and is Board Certified in Family Medicine/OMT, and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine / Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (NMM/OMM). Dr Channell has served in numerous academic roles, including Residency Director, and Department Chair for OMM. She has co-authored the book The 5 – Minute Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Consult, and lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to medical education, and osteopathic medicine. She is a graduate of several leadership fellowships including the ELAM Program at Drexel University College of Medicine and the Costin Institute at Midwestern University. She is actively engaged in academic medicine nationally, previously serving on the ACGME’s Osteopathic Recognition Committee, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the NBOME. Dr. Channell is the 2023-24 president of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO). Currently, Dr. Channell is the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Services, and Professor of Family Medicine, and OMM at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan-Virtua SOM).
Ghazaleh Gigi Hafizi, MD, FACOG | Metropolitan Women’s Center
Term: October 2022 – September 30, 2028
Dr. Gigi Hafizi is Chief Medical Officer and practicing physician at Metropolitan Women’s Center. In this role, Dr. Hafizi focuses on the development of innovative health solutions to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare to a distinct patient population. Dr. Hafizi oversees the company’s overall clinical program with the goal of providing preventive and therapeutic medical and surgical care to women of all ages. She has over twenty years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology and has a depth of knowledge and experience in health education, disease management, patient safety and evidence-based medicine. In the last decade, in additional to her clinical practice, Dr. Hafizi has served as a Medical Student Interviewer, Medical Student, Resident, and Physician’s Assistant teaching faculty at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She has held positions as Assistant Clinical Professor at GWU and VCU Schools of Medicine. Prior to joining Metropolitan Women’s Center, Dr. Hafizi was in private practice in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Hafizi attended the University of California, Los Angeles, Howard University Medical College and completed internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tulane University School of Medicine. She is Board Certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and hold an active medical license in the state of Virginia.
Brian Kessler, DO, DHA, FACOFP | Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell University
Term: October 2023 – September 30, 2029
Dr. Brian A. Kessler, DO, DHA, FACOFP dist., is a scholar-practitioner who integrates leadership, clinical practice, and educational innovation capably. His expertise as a Board-certified osteopathic family medicine physician shines through academic medicine, healthcare governance, and his ability to cultivate interdisciplinary collaboration.
A leading figure in osteopathic medicine and medical education, Dr. Kessler’s academic journey began with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, complemented by a Doctorate in Health Administration. A proud graduate of Saint Vincent College, he completed his post-graduate training at Crozer-Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital before transitioning from clinical practice in Ohio to focusing on academic medicine at Campbell University.
Dr. Kessler’s career is adorned with various honors, including being an AOA Health Policy Fellow, an Academic Leadership Fellow, and a distinguished fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Notable achievements in graduate medical education program development, organizational enhancement, accreditation, and strategic partnership building characterize his professional life. Dr. Kessler’s approach, rooted in honesty, integrity, and humility, has been pivotal in advancing institutional objectives and fostering relationships that catalyze meaningful growth and development.
Currently, Dr. Kessler is the Dean at the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell University, where he also imparts knowledge as a professor of Family Medicine. His prior positions include Dean at Lincoln Memorial University and the Director of Medical Education at Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital.
Dr. Kessler is passionately committed to mindfulness, collaborative engagement, and purpose-driven action. His dedication is evident in his pursuit of academic excellence and his advocacy for a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
In his personal life, Dr. Kessler places immense value on family. He and his wife, Ioanna, an accomplished board-certified osteopathic family physician, share a profound connection through their mutual commitment to medicine and patient care. This bond significantly enriches their personal and professional lives.
Brian and Ioanna are devoted parents to their three children. The Kessler family exemplifies love, support, and a united desire to impact the world positively. They cherish their family time, delight in exploring new places, and relish the happiness of being with friends, exuding warmth, strength, and an inspiring influence.
William W. Pinsky, MD, FAAP, FACC | Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Term: September 2022 – September 30, 2027
William W. Pinsky is Chief Executive Officer of Intealth, President of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), and Board Chair of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), ECFMG’s nonprofit foundation. Prior to joining ECFMG in 2016, Dr. Pinsky was Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of the Ochsner Health System (OHS) in Louisiana. He also served as Executive Vice President of Ochsner International and Professor and Head of the Ochsner Clinical School, a U.S. partner of the University of Queensland School of Medicine in Australia. Dr. Pinsky retains an Honorary Professor title from the University of Queensland. Before joining OHS, he held a number of senior academic and executive roles at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan, and at the Detroit Medical Center.
Dr. Pinsky is a past board member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, as well as the Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers, where he also served as President. In his role at Intealth, Dr. Pinsky continues to work closely with the leadership of numerous national and international organizations involved in medical education and health professions regulation.
A pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Pinsky received his medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine and trained at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Cardiology, and the American College of Chest Physicians. His honors include the Leadership Award from the Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences of the University of Queensland, and the Founders Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Pinsky is also the founder of Racing For Kids®, a non-profit foundation that uses professional motorsports to bring awareness to the health care needs of children and children’s hospitals.
Sujatha Ramachandran, MD, MACM | Montefiore Medical Center | Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Term: October 2023 – September 30, 2029
Dr. Sujatha Ramachandran is a Professor of Anesthesiology and the Vice Chair for Education at Montefiore Medical Center/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Ramachandran received her MBBS from the Dr. MGR Medical University, India and completed her Anesthesiology residency and Cardio-thoracic anesthesia fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center. She has also earned a master’s degree in Academic Medicine from University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Ramachandran has an extensive experience in graduate medical education, having served as the Residency Program Director for over a decade. In this role she has interviewed hundreds of applicants for residency and fellowships, overseen the residency program’s accreditation and developed innovative curricula. Dr. Ramachandran’s expertise in education has been recognized nationally by way of awards for distinguished educators. She also serves as a board examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Ramachandran serves on the DE&I committee for the American Society of Anesthesiology. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and holds an active license in the State of New York.
Barbara L. Schuster, MD, MS, MACP, FRCP (Edin.) | University of Georgia
Term: September 2022 – September 30, 2027
Dr. Schuster is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Georgia having previously held faculty positions at the University of Rochester, Wright State University, and the Medical College of Medicine at Augusta University. She completed a BA in Biology and a MS in Education at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received her MD from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY where she also completed her Primary Care Internal Medicine residency.
Dr. Schuster was the Founding Campus Dean of the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership. Prior to her position as Campus Dean, she served as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio after being the residency director of the Primary Care Program in Internal Medicine and the combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Program, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York. Since retiring from the position of campus dean, she has been involved in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students interested in a health care career, advising medical students, residents, and junior faculty, and supervising in a clinic for the medically uninsured. She continues to teach in the MPH Global Health Leadership program at the University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel and in an University of Georgia undergraduate seminar for pre-health students.
Throughout her career, Dr. Schuster has been extremely active in US national medical organizations with leadership positions on the Board of Regents, American College of Physicians, Chair of the CAS (now CFAS) and member of the Executive Committee of the Association of American Medical Colleges, President of the Program Directors in Internal Medicine, and President of the Association of Professors of Medicine. Medical education at all levels, UME, GME, and CME has been her passion.
Kenneth Simons, MD | University Hospitals
Terms: September 2022 – September 30, 2027
Dr. Kenneth Simons is the Vice President for Education and Designated Institutional Official for University Hospitals and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Professor of Ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Dr. Simons earned his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine, completed a residency in Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill and a fellowship in Ophthalmic Pathology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Simons is a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a past chair of the AMA Section on Medical Schools Governing Council, and served as the Section’s delegate. He is a past member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Board of Directors, serving on its Executive Committee and as chair for the Policies and Procedures Committee and the Committee on Requirements. In March 2011, Dr. Simons was appointed to the Wisconsin State Medical Examining Board in 2011, elected Chair in 2013, and served as Chair through May 2020. He has also served as Chair of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission (IMLCC). Dr. Simons was elected to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) Board of Directors in April 2017 and a past Chair of the organization.
Dr. Simons has previously served on the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Board of Directors and served as its Secretary-Treasurer. He was elected to the board of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and re-elected, completing his service in 2021 and now serves as a Field Secretary. He also served as Chair of the ACGME-I Surgical and Hospital based Review Committee from 2016-2021 which accredits international residency and fellowship training programs. Dr. Simons previously was the Executive Director & DIO for the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals as well as Sr. Assoc. Dean for GME & Accreditation and a tenured professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Dr. Simons passion is ensuring that trainees are educated in supportive educational environments so that they will be able to provide safe, quality care to their patients. In his little remaining free time, Dr. Simons enjoys spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as traveling.
Stephen Symes, MD, FACP | University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Term: November 2022 – September 30, 2028
Dr. Stephen Symes is an Associate Professor of Medicine – Division of Infectious Diseases – with the Miller School of Medicine. He completed his medical education at Howard University in 1989 and Internal Medicine residency at Jackson Memorial Medical Center in 1992. Dr. Symes joined the faculty at UM in 1997 as Associate Director, and then Program Director for the Internal Medicine residency, until 2015. With his main clinical activities in HIV and AIDS, he developed a pathway to train future physician leaders in global and domestic health program administration and advocacy. Dr. Symes has served in institutional UME and GME leadership, with experience managing accreditation issues for medical school, residency programs and institutions. With medical students at Miller, and JMH Internal Medicine residents, Dr. Symes started the Human Rights clinic at San Juan Bosco for asylum seekers who are victims of torture and abuse. Dr. Symes also served as primary care clinician in T.H.R.I.V.E. a UM-JMH clinic for victims of Human Trafficking here in South Florida, and works 2 half-days per week at the community-based Center For Haitian Studies, providing free care to uninsured patients in the North Miami community. Dr. Symes served as Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Miller, emphasizing workforce development, from 2015-2020, in arguably one of the most diverse population centers in the United States.
Dr. Symes continues to work on curriculum at the medical school clerkship, and residency level. His background as a medical educator, and work with disadvantaged populations, allows him to mentor young scholars toward advocacy and health equity in patient care and public health.