New faculty join UMMC academic ranks

Published on Monday, October 23, 2023

Medical Center leadership is proud to announce the following additions to its faculty and leadership staff. 

Dr. Saja A. Alramadhan

Dr. Saja A. Alramadhan has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of oral-maxillofacial surgery and pathology in the School of Dentistry. 

Alramadhan, who earned a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Ar-Ramtha, Jordan, completed an internship in the Periodontology Continuing Education Internship Program at the University of Florida. Following this, she completed a residency in oral and maxillofacial pathology in 2021 and then pursed a one-year fellowship in oral and maxillofacial pathology at the University of Florida. 

She also served as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral Pathology, in the College of Dentistry at the University of Florida.  

Alramadhan has participated in numerous scientific presentations at national and regional conferences and meetings. She is the coauthor of about a dozen accepted peer-reviewed publications, around 10 non-peer reviewed publications and three book chapters. 

She is a member of the American Dental Education Association and the education committee for the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Alramadhan is also a diplomate and fellow of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. 

Dr. Lori S. Duke

Dr. Lori S. Duke, recently an instructor in practical nursing at Northwest Community College School of Health Sciences in Senatobia, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of nursing instruction in the School of Nursing.  

She earned her Master of Science in Nursing and, in 2017, her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. She served as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Tippah County Health Clinic in Ripley, Fast Pace Health Urgent Care Clinic in Ripley and Holly Springs, TeamHealth Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County Emergency Department in New Albany, and Primary Care Clinic of Ripley.  

She has also worked at Tippah County Health Services and at Gilbert’s Home Health Agency in Tupelo as a Registered Nurse. 

Duke, who has taken on a number of leadership roles throughout her career, has served as a clinical preceptor at a number of universities and colleges in Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi.  

She is a member of a variety of professional organizations and honor societies, including the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Sigma Theta Tau, Sigma Alpha Pi, American Nurses Association and Mississippi Nurses Association. 

—  —  — 

Dr. Juan H. Velasquez Lopez

Dr. Juan H. Velasquez Lopez, recently a neonatal-perinatal medicine fellow at the LAC+USC Medical Center/Keck School of Medicine of USC, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of pediatrics-neonatology in the School of Medicine. 

Velasquez acted as chief fellow during his fellowship and was also chief resident during his pediatrics training at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in New York. He completed his residency in 2020 after earning his medical degree at Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala. 

In Guatemala, he also served as a primary care physician in private practice and at the Santo Hermano Pedro Hospital. He was also an assistant professor of clinical pathology at Universidad Francisco Marroquin.  

Velasquez, who has received a number of academic and professional honors, is the coauthor of several scientific publications and has made a number of research presentations.  

He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy Association and Guatemalan College of Physicians and Surgeons. His certifications include those in targeted neonatal echocardiography, pediatrics and more.  

His main interest is neonatal hemodynamics and the implementation of a physiological approach to the management of challenging cases, as well as the use of less invasive surfactant administration and the use of high frequency ventilation for the vulnerable population.