Dr. Kiki Nissen, senior associate dean for Faculty Affairs and associate dean for Graduate Medical Education at UConn School of Medicine, is proud to announce the Faculty in the Spotlight for the spring of 2026.
“We are excited to highlight three outstanding faculty members this spring season,” applauds Nissen sharing, “Thank you to these faculty and so many others for their excellent contributions to advancing academic medicine.”
The Spring 2026 faculty honorees:
Rebecca Riba-Wolman, MD, is associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics and director of the Glycogen Storage Disease & Disorders of Hypoglycemia Program at Connecticut Children’s and UConn Health. She is celebrated for her visionary leadership in transforming the program into a rapidly growing, research-driven center that expands patient care, advances clinical trials, and delivers groundbreaking therapies for children with complex metabolic disorders. She was nominated by Dr. Michael Isakoff.
Kourosh Parham, MD, Ph.D. is professor in the Department of Surgery. He is honored for his steady, inspiring leadership of the ENT Residency Program that has grown into a highly regarded, high‑performing training experience marked by exceptional outcomes and strong recruitment. His dedication is continually recognized, most notably in 2025 when he was honored by residents to receive the Gerald Leonard, MD Award for Excellence in Resident Teaching and Advocacy. He was nominated by Dr. Kevin Staveley-O’Carroll.
Yazeed Maghaydah, MD, is assistant professor in the Department of Medicine. He is recognized for spearheading UConn Health’s rollout of groundbreaking Alzheimer’s diagnostic testing and treatment, Lecanemab Therapy, which has been accessed by nearly 100 patients. His leadership earned him a board appointment with the CT Alzheimer’s Association and an invitation to present internationally. He was nominated by UConn Center on Aging’s Dr. George Kuchel and Dr. Patrick Coll.
About Faculty Spotlight
Faculty Spotlight celebrates the recent notable accomplishments of UConn School of Medicine’s faculty across patient care, research, and education at UConn Health, Connecticut’s only public academic medical center. Recipients are selected from numerous nominations received from department chairs, center directors, and educational leadership across UConn’s medical school.
