New faculty join UMMC academic ranks

Published on Monday, August 21, 2023

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

Dr. Alexis J. Alvarado Arias

Dr. Alexis J. Alvarado Arias, recently a neurocritical care fellow at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of neurology in the School of Medicine.  

After earning his medical degree in 2009 at the Universidad de Carabobo, Escuela de Medicina, in Valencia, Venezuela, he completed a general surgery internship at the International Red Cross Dr. Luis Blanco Gasperi Hospital in Valencia; an internal medicine fellowship and an adult neurology residency at University of New Mexico Hospitals in Albuquerque; and a vascular neurology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania. 

He also served as a primary care physician for one year at the Dr. Miguel Franco Hospital in Valencia, Venezuela. 

He has close to a decade of teaching experience. He has co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles and a book chapter, and has participated in a variety of research projects and poster presentations.  

He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and is board-eligible for vascular neurology and for neurocritical care. 

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Dr. Ahmad Mahadeen

Dr. Ahmad Mahadeen, who recently completed a clinical epilepsy fellowship at the Charles Shor Epilepsy Center of the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an assistant professor of neurology in the School of Medicine. 

Mahadeen earned his medical degree (MBBS) in 2015 at the Faculty of Medicine of Mutah University in Karak, Jordan. He also completed a transitional internal medicine year at the King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, Jordan, and an adult neurology residency at the Cleveland Clinic, as well as a clinical neuroimmunology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research. 

At the Cleveland Clinic, he earned a number of teaching honors, including the KCK Compassionate and Humanistic Care Award. His leadership roles included clinical instructor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, medical student liaison for the neurology clerkship, and wellness chair for the epilepsy fellowship, among others.  

Board-certified in neurology, Mahadeen is the co-author of two book chapters, several professional publications and educational materials. He has served as co-investigator in several clinical trials.  

He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, among other professional organizations.  

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Dr. Emily Thompson

Dr. Emily Thompson, recently a pediatric dentistry resident at UMMC, has joined the Medical Center faculty as an associate professor of pediatric dentistry and community oral health in the School of Dentistry. 

Before completing her residency at the Medical Center, Thompson earned her dental degree in the School of Dentistry at UMMC in 2021.  

Her work/volunteer experience includes providing dental care to underserved areas around Clarksdale with the But God Ministries Dental Clinic, as well as dental care to uninsured patients at the Jackson Free Dental Clinic in Jackson, during UMMC Dental Mission Week and at the Mission First Dental Clinic in Jackson. 

Thompson is the co-author of several research publications and has received recognition for her research work. She has specialty training to serve populations with medical complexities and special health care needs. She will see private practice patients at the School of Dentistry.