Current Infectious Diseases Fellows

Yokabed Ermias, MD, MPH
Medical School: University of California SOM, San Diego
Residency: Emory University SOM

I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to two physicians but my family immigrated to Atlanta when I was only 2 years old after my father was offered a job as a public health practitioner. My childhood memories were filled with my parent’s stories of working in remote towns in Ethiopia and my father’s travels around the world working in public health. From a young age, my interests in medicine and public health were shaped by these stories. After graduating high school, I attended UGA where I completed a combined BS/MPH and personalized my interest in public health. After college, I had the opportunity to work at the CDC where I saw public health in action both during global pandemics and when developing national family planning guidelines. These experiences further fueled my passion for public health but left me wondering about individual healthcare. This led me to attend medical school and IM residency where I continued to participate in research and global health work in Ethiopia while discovering my clinical interest in infectious diseases. ID is ever evolving and was the perfect field for me to blend my clinical curiosity, global health interest, and public health work. Looking to the future, the Emory ID/EIS program is an ideal opportunity to help train me further in both ID and applied global public health. I am very excited to be continuing my training with the Emory ID family!

 Outside of work, you’ll find me spending time with my husband and 2 cats, exploring the Atlanta food scene, and running/biking the Atlanta beltline and nearby trails.

Nora Loughry, MD
Medical School: University of Maryland SOM
Residency: Emory University SOM

I was born and raised in New Jersey, and studied Psychology and Dance at Connecticut College. After an incredibly formative experience with AmeriCorps (National Health Corps) working at a federally qualified health center in Philadelphia, I went to University of Maryland for medical school. I learned arguably equally as much both in and out of the classroom while volunteering with the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition, focusing on community education and advocacy around the opioid epidemic and overdose response. Ultimately, I came to Emory for combined residency training in both Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, with the goal of learning how to provide comprehensive care to patients with both infectious diseases and co-morbid psychiatric illness. I am particularly interested in the intersection of HIV, IV drug-related infectious complications, substance use disorders, and harm reduction. I absolutely loved working with the Infectious Diseases department during residency through various rotations, including the HIV Medicine distinction track, and I feel so grateful to be staying at Emory for ID fellowship. In my free time, I enjoy dance, poetry, comedy shows, and I am determined to make Atlanta a walkable city.

Becky Muenich, MD, MPH
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center SOM, San Antonio
Residency:University of Texas Health Science Center SOM, San Antonio

I grew up in central Texas, where I developed an appreciation for breakfast tacos, margaritas, and tubing the river during our hot Texas summers. My love for working with people led me to study nursing during my undergraduate education, and I worked as an acute care nurse for the next nine years. During my nursing career, I had opportunities to volunteer as a nurse among vulnerable communities, both locally and in rural Nigeria. These experiences, and the connections I witnessed between social determinants of health and disease, birthed an interest in the field of infectious diseases and ultimately led me to pursue a career in medicine and public health. I completed both my medical and public health degrees at the University of Texas in San Antonio. As part of my MPH, I worked in Zimbabwe, studying the impact of community empowerment and health promotion through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs in rural villages. I then decided to remain at UT San Antonio for residency, where my interest in infectious diseases continued to develop through training in an HIV Medicine track, where I provided primary care to patients living with HIV, and through a Health Equity track, where I worked alongside organizations providing healthcare to unsheltered individuals and other marginalized populations in San Antonio. I am thrilled for the chance to train in Infectious Diseases, particularly HIV Medicine, at Emory due to the program’s commitment to compassion and patient care, the outstanding faculty, and the amazing clinical and research opportunities. In my free time, I love camping and hiking, reading, creative writing, running, and spending time with my wonderful husband and our two boys.

Emily Muller, MD
Medical School: University of Washington SOM
Residency:University of California San Francisco

I am originally from Olympia, Washington and spent my childhood exploring the woods around my house and playing soccer in the rainy weather. I wanted to get a little sunshine and went to undergrad at Scripps College in Southern California where I studied biology. I worked in a lab that studied wasps and thought for a while I wanted to pursue a research career but my time volunteering at the local hospital helped me realize I wanted more human connection. I went to the University of Washington for Medical School where I first got exposed to Infectious Disease and caring for people living with HIV. ID was the last rotation of my 4th year of medical school and the amazing providers and patients stuck with me as I started my residency in San Francisco at UCSF. I was in the primary care track at UCSF that focused on the care of marginalized and underserved patients. One of my clinic sites was at the Ward 86 Urgent Care, a clinic that is devoted to caring for patients living with HIV. During residency I realized that ID was the right fit for me. In my free time I enjoy trying new restaurants, reading fantasy novels, and cuddling with my kitty cats.

Margaret To, MD, MPH
Medical School: Emory University SOM
Residency:Emory University SOM

Born to Vietnamese refugees seeking a better life in the US, I grew up in Marlboro, NJ and attended the University of Pittsburgh, where I completed degrees in Biology and the History and Philosophy of Science. After graduating, I spent a year working as a Patient Care Technician at UPMC St. Margaret before matriculating at Emory, where I completed both my MD and an MPH in Global Epidemiology. My interest in global health started when I volunteered with the non-profit organization, Amigos de las Americas in Chiguiri Abajo, a rural community in Panama, and deepened with subsequent volunteer work in Faridabad, India and the Dominican Republic. Through funding from the ASTMH-sponsored Ben Kean Fellowship and the Emory Global Health Institute, I returned to my cultural roots and spent time in Vietnam investigating access to mental healthcare with investigators at the Center for Research and Training on AIDS at Hanoi Medical University. I continued my medical training at Emory, completing combined training in Internal Medicine & Psychiatry, and hope to leverage my training as an Infectious Disease doctor to bridge gaps in access to care among persons at high risk of and living with HIV/AIDs. It was during residency that my interests naturally shifted from global health to domestic work focused on ending the HIV Epidemic in the Southeastern United States. My research interests include HIV and mental healthcare integration, improving access along the HIV continuum of care, and other intersections of infectious disease with mental health, including long-COVID. I find great meaning working with the metro Atlanta community and especially in the care of patients at Grady. Outside of medicine, I enjoy photography, bullet journaling, and spending time with my husband & two dogs, Oreo and Biscuit.

Mariam Assi, MD, MPH
Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

I was born in Lebanon, grew up in different parts of Canada and the United Arab Emirates, and then returned to Lebanon for college and medical school. I then moved to Richmond, Virginia for residency where I developed an interest in infectious diseases, particularly in antibiotic-resistant infections. During my time working with vulnerable and marginalized populations in Richmond, as a resident and later as a hospitalist, I developed a deep passion for addressing health inequities that are built within the fabric of infectious diseases. This is why I chose Emory for my infectious disease training, knowing I’ll have ample opportunity to develop a career at the intersection of antibiotic resistance, health disparities, public health and health policy. Outside of medicine, I like spending time with my family, trying out new restaurants, hiking, painting and reading nonfiction books.

Emily Evans, MD
Medical School: Emory University SOM
Residency: University of Pittsburg Medical Center

I grew up in Beverly Hills, Michigan doing all the typical Michigan things- swimming, euchre and ice hockey. I moved to warmer weather for college at UVa where I was initially interested in Material Science Engineering and briefly worked with automotive HVACs; however, I ended up switching careers to focus on diagnostic technology while studying Biomedical Engineering and African Studies. After graduation I moved to Uganda as a clinical trial site coordinator evaluating experimental therapies for cryptococcal meningitis among patients with HIV. I was struck by the effect that HIV infection had on the risk, diagnosis and prognosis of neurological infections and became interested in the culture and policies surrounding HIV transmission and control of infection. I first came to ATL for medical school at Emory which only deepened my interest in public health, advocacy, and HIV/tuberculosis infections. My interest in global public health was well established when I moved to Pittsburgh for residency at UPMC where I was able to participate in a collaboration in Malawi. I am excited to be back at Emory to pursue a career in infectious diseases specifically related to TB and CNS infections in people living with HIV, health policy and global health research. In my free time I enjoy standup comedy, pottery, and creative cooking.

Jonathan Huang, MD
Medical School: University of Maryland SOM
Residency: Emory University SOM

Born and raised in Maryland, I went to University of Maryland for both college and medical school. I had the opportunity to travel outside the East Coast when I came down to Emory for my internal medicine training. I was fortunate to have had opportunities in medical school to take care of persons living with HIV in Baltimore. Early on in residency, I was able to further explore these interests on Grady ID consult service and our unique SIS service focused on inpatient management of HIV associated complications. I also participated in early integration of procalcitonin studies to the Emory healthcare system as well as explored demographics and barriers to HIV care in our Atlanta population. My residency experience culminated in my chief year at Emory Midtown where I continued to build my leadership skills and passions for resident advocacy and medical education. I hope to further develop my skills in curriculum design, clinical reasoning, and teaching under the amazing mentors here at Emory. I have been so thankful for the opportunities here and I can't wait to join the ID family!

In my free time, you can find me exploring restaurants/breweries, playing volleyball, enjoying movies/TV, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Sam Parks, MD, MSPH
Medical School: Emory University SOM
Residency: Emory University SOM

I was born and raised in Marietta Georgia by a doctor and a nurse giving me the coveted local area code and some ideas about wanting to help people. I went to college at GW in Washington DC thinking youthful thoughts of making the world a better place through politics only to learn after working in the US Senate that certainly was easier said than done! I ultimately slid from policy to public health and ended up back in Georgia to work on an MPH at Emory and work at CDC at which point my interest in ID crystallized through projects like MDR TB tracking and investigating infections as first triggers for psychosis. Ultimately, I felt that my work in epidemiology was not quite "human" enough for me and so I went to medical school at Emory and haven't looked back as the bedside is where I'm meant to be. I feel passionately about helping Atlanta and Emory to grow and improve as these truly are my places after so many years, so much so that this will be my 4th phase of education here! Outside of the hospital I love walking with my fluffy puppy, nerding out on the newest sci-fi or fantasy book or video game, and building and painting models. 

Alex Warr, MD
Medical School: University of Washington SOM
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine

As a Washingtonian through and through, I spent as much time in the outdoors as possible growing up. I wanted a change of culture after high school, so I headed to North Carolina for undergrad at Wake Forest. It was during undergrad that I first spent time doing global health work and felt the call to be an infectious disease doctor. I spent a few years working back home and abroad in Haiti with an NGO in the health sector. Afterwards, I went to medical school at the University of Washington where I caught the research bug and worked for two years studying tuberculosis in a Kenyan pediatric cohort. I headed south again and completed residency in Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. I’m excited to be at Emory for the opportunities to work in the Atlanta community and continue my research in tuberculosis.

Wassim Abdallah, MD
Medical School: Université Saint-Joseph Faculté de Médecine, Lebanon
Residency: Indiana University SOM, Indianapolis

Born and raised on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, I grew up wanting to become a meteorologist by collecting years-worth of data from the weather machine my father got me when I turned 8. I spent my summers on Lebanese sandy beaches and my winters complaining I can’t be at those beaches. I attended the French Medical School of Beirut, and then moved to the US for my Internal Medicine and Chief Residencies at Indiana University (IU) in Indianapolis. While Infectious Diseases (ID) was my passion since Medical School, residency cemented this view. I got the chance to work with national experts on developing new point-of-care diagnostics for fungal infections. At Emory, I have the chance to work with tuberculosis research experts. I am focusing on the relationship between tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes mellitus. I am simultaneously pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Research with emphasis on TB-associated epigenetic changes in a cohort of patients from the country of Georgia. I'm also part of the Emory Global Health Residency Scholars Program, in partnership with Ethiopian partners I'll be working with in Addis Ababa in early 2025. When I’m not doing medicine, I usually look up nearby trails, and go on bike rides. I also play pickup basketball and soccer games, and I always enjoy trying a new bar/restaurant. Most recently, I have been learning to play Oud, a classic instrument of Middle Eastern music.

Elizabeth Y. Kim, MD, MPH
Medical School: University of California SOM, San Francisco
Residency: California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco

I grew up in Maryland and went to undergrad at Stanford. My interest in ID began after graduation when I began my first job studying molecular epidemiology, diagnostics, drug-resistance in tuberculosis at UC San Francisco. This spurred my interest in public health which led me to pursue a Masters in Public Health at Johns Hopkins and further work at UC San Diego where I characterized genetic mutations in multi- and extensively drug resistant TB. Subsequently, I began medical school at UCSF where I discovered a passion for medical education, particularly in curriculum design, learner feedback and evaluation and practiced these skills throughout residency and as a chief resident at California Pacific Medical Center. As a chief and as a hospitalist during the COVID-19 pandemic, I became interested in the problem of rapidly worsening multidrug resistance, particularly within the context of healthcare settings.

I chose Emory ID for its incredible faculty with broad-ranging expertise, particularly in medical education and antimicrobial stewardship/hospital epidemiology. Since coming here, I have had the opportunity to pursue a Masters in Clinical Research with a thesis project studying different treatment regimens for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptible to beta-lactams. In the future, I plan to pursue a career combining my interests in hospital epidemiology/antimicrobial resistance research and medical education. 

In my spare time, you might find me walking down the Beltline or hiking on one of the Atlanta area’s beautiful hiking trails. On a more relaxed day, I might be cooking with my husband or tinkering with instruments.  

Samuel Opara, MD, MPH
Medical School: University of Jos, Nigeria
Residency: MedStar Health, Baltimore

I was born and raised in Jos City, Nigeria, where I went to medical school at the University of Jos and spent the first few years of my early medical career. My interests in infectious diseases and public health were kindled over a year that I spent serving members of a rural community on Brass Island in Bayelsa State, including individuals living with HIV under The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

In 2015, I moved from Nigeria to the U.S. to pursue an MPH at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Austin, Texas. There, I was part of a team researching tobacco use among adolescents and learned a lot about large-scale longitudinal public health research. Following my MPH training, I worked briefly as an epidemiologist in HIV surveillance for the Texas Department of State Health Services, then moved to Maryland for medical residency training with the MedStar Health (Baltimore) Internal Medicine residency program. Right after residency, I joined Emory’s infectious diseases fellowship program in the HIV Track. Here, my research efforts are aimed at improving health outcomes for Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

A lot of my free time is typically spent watching movies/shows, and at the gym working out or stationary cycling.

Sarah E. Scott, MD
Medical School: Vanderbilt University SOM
Residency: Vanderbilt University SOM

I grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, and each winter I'm adamant that this is the basketball season the Hoosiers will make a comeback. I moved to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt for college. After a detour to work for a nonprofit in Quito, Ecuador for a year, I returned to Vanderbilt for medical school and Med-Peds residency. Following residency, I joined the Epidemic Intelligence Service and moved to Phoenix as the field officer for the Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County Department of Public Health. With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was assigned to the Intelligence Section of Maricopa County’s response. As a team, we were responsible for all case investigations, contact tracing, outbreak management, and data collection/analysis. Following EIS, I became a Medical Epidemiologist with Maricopa County and continued to work in the local pandemic response. I circled back to ID fellowship because ultimately, I want to work at the intersection of clinical infectious diseases and public health — most likely in the context of HIV and STIs — where I can care for both individuals and populations. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, (getting back into) running, hunkering down at a locally owned bookstore, and, like any former desert-dweller, debating the merits of 115°F and dry vs. humid summer weather.

Vanessa E. Van Doren, MD
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University SOM
Residency: Emory University School of Medicine

I grew up in Massachusetts and initially thought I was going to be a primate population geneticist. While working with hamadryas baboons in Awash National Park in Ethiopia, I became interested in infectious diseases and access to healthcare and ultimately decided to change careers. I started medical school at Case Western Reserve University in 2014. I began advocating for single payer, universal healthcare and ending racial discrimination in medicine as a student through organizations like Students for a National Health Program and White Coats for Black Lives, and I’ve continued this work at Emory as a resident and fellow through a group called the Churchwell Diversity and Inclusion Collective (CDIC). I met my husband, Dan, at an awesome Cleveland bar called the Barking Spider. We moved to Atlanta together in 2018 and now have two sons – Robin and Walter.

I chose Emory for residency and fellowship because of the tradition of advocacy, the opportunity to work with so many brilliant and compassionate physicians, and the desire to help out in one of the places where the HIV epidemic is unfortunately still going strong. I also did a research chief year in between residency and fellowship studying factors that influence the rectal mucosal immune environment in men who have sex with men, and I have continued this work as a fellow. By studying the immune environments of the people who are most impacted by HIV, I hope to contribute to the development of equitable prevention and management approaches. My overarching career goal is to improve care for marginalized populations living with and at risk for HIV through research, patient care, and advocacy. In my free time, I like reading, traveling, checking out local breweries, and hanging out with my family.