New Professors in the Yale Department of Internal Medicine (July 2026)

Fellowship: Yale New Haven Hospital
Residency: Griffin Hospital
MD: Lebanese University

What does your promotion mean to you?

It was an incredible honor to be promoted to professor of medicine. As an immigrant, I am so grateful for the opportunity to train, work, and advance in one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world. The promotion was a recognition of my hard work, resilience, persistence, and aspiration, and was also a reminder that now it is my time to pay forward.

What was the first thing you did when you found out you were promoted to professor?

I first took a deep breath and embraced the joy and gratitude. I called my mother to share the news, then celebrated with my husband and my son.

What are you proud of most thus far in your career?

I am mostly proud of the privilege to care for patients and save lives, especially people living with HIV and marginalized populations. I am proud of the programs and interdisciplinary teams that I established that aimed to improve the quality of life of people with HIV and enhance the workforce of HIV/ID providers. I am proud of our trainees who advanced in their careers and became catalysts of impactful changes in their communities and in the world.

What is your favorite part of academia?

My favorite part of academia is the people. I had the pleasure and honor to meet and establish relationships and friendships with brilliant, dedicated, ambitious, and kind students, trainees, and colleagues. I learn from them every day, and I feel that together we deliver state-of-the-art care to our patients and promote innovation and research. I also cherish the mentorship that I have received throughout the years from amazing mentors who shaped not only my career but my life.

Tell us a fun fact about you—something people may find surprising.

I like to cook and paint. I speak three languages. None of this is surprising!

Fellowship: Boston University Medical Center
Residency (Preventive Medicine): Boston University Medical Center
Residency (Internal Medicine): Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
MD: Boston University School of Medicine

What does your appointment mean to you?

My appointment to professor at Yale, after achieving a similar rank at Boston University, was further validation that the body of scientific evidence I have had the privilege to create is recognized by my peers as having a significant impact on the field of healthcare delivery disparities. This accomplishment is less about my individual success than a reflection of the growing recognition that action-oriented community-engaged research is a rigorous and highly impactful science.

What was the first thing you did when you found out you were appointed as professor?

Called my parents, of course! Then sent a message in the family group chat!

What are you proud of most thus far in your career?

I am most proud of identifying as an action-oriented community-engaged researcher whose work has improved cancer care access, while also steering the field in a positive direction.

What is your favorite part of academia?

Being part of a community that fosters curiosity and collective solutions.

Tell us a fun fact about you—something people may find surprising.

I am a two-time cancer survivor; every day is a gift!

Postdoctoral Training: Immune Disease Institute, Harvard Medical School

PhD: Indian Institute of Science

What does your promotion mean to you?

This promotion is deeply meaningful to me. I am honored by the recognition and proud of how far I have come—something that would not have been possible without the extraordinary support, mentorship, and collaborations I have received at Yale. As an academic faculty member in a clinical department, Yale gave me the foundation and freedom to take risks, build my program, and grow into a seasoned academician. This appointment affirms that growth and reflects my transition from finding my footing to standing as a peer among colleagues I have long admired, and to now mentoring others in turn.

What was the first thing you did when you found out you were promoted to professor?

I was deeply touched to receive the news through a personal phone call from my section chief rather than an email. There is something profoundly meaningful about being called for moments that truly matter. I then shared the news with my family, my mentors and colleagues at Yale, and my laboratory, because this achievement truly reflects the collective support and effort that made it possible.

What are you proud of most thus far in your career?

What I am most proud of is the journey itself. As an academic faculty member within a clinical department, I navigated both challenges and unique opportunities. While the environment required me to work across boundaries, it also pushed me to build strong bridges with basic science and other departments across Yale. That ability to reach across disciplines—to collaborate, integrate, and contribute beyond traditional silos—became one of my greatest strengths. Rather than following a fixed path, I remained open to opportunity, willing to take risks, and focused on the work itself. Looking back, I am proud not of a single moment, but of how each experience shaped my growth and made the journey deeply rewarding.

What is your favorite part of academia?

My favorite part of academia is its intellectual freedom. It is not rigid—it allows you to define the questions that matter, to follow ideas where they lead, and to approach problems from multiple angles. I value the responsibility that comes with that freedom: being answerable to the quality and importance of the questions I choose. As long as a question is meaningful and well-articulated, academia provides the space and support to pursue it. This is something I emphasize in mentoring—that you are not confined to answering questions framed by others. Academia gives each of us a voice, the ability to lead rather than follow, and the opportunity for everyone to become a leader in their own right.

Tell us a fun fact about you—something people may find surprising.

I am a self-taught painter. Within a year of picking up a brush for the first time, one of my paintings was featured on a prominent biotech website, which was a lovely surprise. I enjoy learning new things from scratch and finding creative outlets beyond science.

The Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine is among the nation's premier departments, bringing together an elite cadre of clinicians, investigators, educators, and staff in one of the world's top medical schools. To learn more, visit Internal Medicine.