While primarily committed patient care, Penn's faculty members are also actively engaged in clinical and laboratory research designed to improve survival and quality of life for transplant recipients. The program's goal is to provide the best care and restore each patient to a full and productive life.
The following members of the pancreas transplant team are involved in patient care throughout the transplant process:
Pancreas Transplant Surgeons
- Peter L. Abt, MD
- Samir Abu-Gazala, MD
- Matthew H. Levine, MD, PhD
- James F. Markmann, MD, PhD
Vice-President, Transplant Services
- Ali Naji, MD, PhD
- Ronald Parsons, MD
Surgical Director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplant
- Elizabeth Sonnenberg, MD
Pancreas Transplant Nephrologists
- Behdad Besharatian, MD
- Melissa B. Bleicher, MD
- Roy D. Bloom, MD
Medical Director
- Simin Goral, MD
- Meera Harhay, MD
- Sabiha Hussain, MD
- Mary Ann Lim, MD
- Vishnu Potluri, MD
- Karthik Rangana, MBA, MD
- Peter Reese, MD
- Nay Seif, MD
- Salma Shaikhouni, MD
- Srijan Tandukar, MD
Pancreas Transplant Endocrinologist
Transplant Psychiatry
Advanced Practice Providers
- Chienhui Chiang, CRNP
- Katie Couch, CRNP
- Christine Culkin-Gemmell, DNP, CRNP
- Sarah DiPadova, CRNP
- Gail Eastman, CRNP
- Katie Hummel, CRNP
- Casey Mauger, PA-C
- Stephanie Benko, PA-C
- Kelly Cederquist, MMSc, PA-C
- Casandra Erdman, MS, PA-C
- Georgeine Smith, MS, MHS, PA-C
Pre-Pancreas Transplant Coordinators
- Taylor Edelman, BSN, RN
- Vivian Cheng Gavin, BSN, RN
- Patricia Geary, MSN, RN, CCTC
- Maral Palanjian, BSN, RN
- Melissa Parsonson, BSN, RN
- Rita Perry, BSN, RN
- Nicole Ruemeli, BSN, RN
- Ryan Solot, MSN, RN
- Jourdan Wexler, BSN, RN, CCRN
Post-Pancreas Transplant Coordinators
- Saleema Brookins, MHA, BSN, RN
- Valentina Calastri, BSN, RN, CNOR
- Wanda Gbemudu, MBA, BSN, RN
- Michelle Nakasone, BSN, RN, BC
- Tiana Randall, BSN, RN
- Bernadette Tasker, BSN, RN
- Julie Truong, BSN, RN
- Julie Spaulding, CRNP
Social Workers
- Christine Cerra, MSW
- China Coleman, MSW
- Krista E. Kreh, MSW
- Renee Maggiaro, MSW
- Rachel Mosca, MSW
- Emily Patrick, MSW
- Sandra "Sandy" Aponte Peralta, MSW
- Lauren Tempesta, MSW
- Stacey Wallace, MSW
- Kathleen Wimley, MSW
- Rose Winchell, MSW
Financial Coordinators
- Tara Koslowski
- Naiphesa Gibson
- Kaomi China
Transplant Nutritionist
- Chelsea Reynolds, MS, RD, LDN
Transplant Pharmacists
- Megan Galle, PharmD
- Greg Malat, PharmD, BCPS, FAST
- Linh Nguyen, PharmD
- Chelsea Sammons, PharmD, BCTXP
Transplant Outreach Coordinator
Sr. Transplant Physician Liaison
Manager, Transplant Outreach and Communication