Jessica Ailani, MD
Director, MedStar Georgetown Headache Center, Vice Co-Chair
Professor of Clinical Neurology
Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, DC

Dr. Jessica Ailani is a Professor of Clinical Neurology and Director of the Medstar Georgetown Headache Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. She received her medical degree from the Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York, followed by an internship at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, New York. Dr. Ailani subsequently completed a residency and Chief Residency in Neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, New York, followed by a fellowship in Headache Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is board-certified in Neurology with subspecialty certification in Headache Medicine.

Dr. Ailani is a fellow of the American headache society, the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Neurological Association. She holds a position on the board of the American Headache Society as Secretary. For AHS, Dr. Ailani is chair of the Membership committee, Awards committee, co-chair of the Leadership committee and is on the Scientific and Scottsdale program planning committees. Dr. Ailani is Section Editor of Unusual Headache Syndromes for Current Pain and Headache Reports and a reviewer for several professional journals. Dr. Ailani has presented nationally on topics surrounding headache medicine.

Jan N. Basile, MD, FACP, FASH, FAHA
Professor of Medicine
Division of Cardiology
Medical University of South Carolina
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
Previous Vice-Chair of Clinical Programs AHA Council of Hypertension
US National Leader SURPASS-CVOT
Charleston, SC

Dr. Jan N. Basile earned his medical degree in 1978 from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He then completed his internship and residency at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, where he was also Chief Resident. He is board certified in internal medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), the American Society of Hypertension (FASH), and the American Heart Association (FAHA). For many years he served on the American Society of Hypertension (ASH) Board of Directors and has served within the AHA as Vice-Chair of Clinical Programs on the Council of Hypertension.

His honors and awards include the MUSC School of Medicine Excellence in Teaching award, the Golden Apple award, and, in 2014, he was the first recipient of the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control Hypertension Physician of the Year award. In 2019, he received the Marvin Moser Clinical Hypertension Award from the American Heart Association Council on Hypertension. He was President of the Southern Medical Association from 2008-2009.

Currently, he is Professor of Medicine at MUSC in the Division of Cardiology. He spent 31 years at the Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center while faculty at MUSC, having retired from federal service as Chief of Primary Care in 2009. He remains a volunteer at the VA, his 45th year at that hospital. At MUSC, he continues to teach all 3rd year medical students clinical hypertension during their 3rd year core medicine rotation and currently sees clinical patients enrolled in research trials on the role of renal denervation in controlling hypertension.

Dr. Basile’s career research interests include outcome-based clinical trials involving hypertension, lipid disorders, and diabetes. He has been involved in many large hypertension trials that have defined how we treat hypertension including the NHLBI sponsored ALLHAT, ACCORD, SPRINT and SPRINT-MIND trials. In addition, he has been a principal investigator for the ACCOMPLISH, VALUE, ONTARGET, and TRANSCEND trials. Most recently, he has been involved in diabetes outcome trials with GLP1RA's including REWIND and is the US National Leader for the SURPASS-CV Outcome Trial comparing Dulaglutide with the dual-agonist Tirzepatide.

Dr Basile was a contributing reviewer of the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) and the 2017 ACC-AHA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. He has published more than 400 original papers, abstracts, and book chapters, as well as a textbook, Hot Topics: Hypertension. He continues to be a contributing author for the hypertension section of “Up To Date”.

Robert Dachs, MD
Director of Graduate Medical Education
Department of Emergency Medicine
Ellis Hospital, Associate Clinical Professor
Family Residency Program
Albany Medical College
Schenectady, NY

Dr. Robert Dachs is the Director of Graduate Medical Education for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY. Previously Dr. Dachs served as Vice Chairman for the Department of Emergency Medicine for the past 16 years. Additionally, he is Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Ellis Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program and is the previous Research Director for this residency program. Dr. Dachs graduated New York Medical College in 1985. He spent 2 years in General Surgery Residency at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA before moving on and completing a Family Medicine Residency in Middletown, CT in 1991. Since then, Dr. Dachs has practiced Emergency Medicine full-time in the Albany-Schenectady region of New York State. During his career, Dr. Dachs has published over 65 peer reviewed articles on a variety of acute and primary care topics. He has lectured nationally for many years on a broad range of topics and is a faculty member for the AAFP Board Review courses. He also developed the first Continuing Education program on Emergency and Urgent Care for Family Physicians for AAFP in 2001 and was Chairman for this course for 10 years. More recently, he has developed a similar 3-day CME course for cmemeeting.org that has developed a strong and growing reputation for excellence. He has received “Teacher of the year” awards 3 times from his residents and continues to have a passion for teaching. This past year, he was Chair of a 7-hour enduring CME project on COVID-19 for the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Samira Farouk, MD, MSCR, FASN
Associate Professor of Medicine & Medical Education
Associate Director, Nephrology Fellowship Program
Division of Nephrology
Recanati Miller Transplant Institute
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, NY

Dr. Samira Farouk is a transplant nephrologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS). She is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Education, Associate Program Director of the Nephrology Fellowship Program, and Social Media Director of the Division of Nephrology. Dr. Farouk is a graduate of Princeton University where she received her B.S.E in Chemical Engineering with a certificate in Spanish and Portuguese Language and Culture. She received her MD from Rutgers University – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where she graduated with a Distinction in Research. She completed her internship, residency, and nephrology and transplant fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and also served as chief fellow.

Dr. Farouk is involved in all levels of medical education and teaches medical students, residents, and fellows and has been the recipient of multiple teaching awards. She is interested in the development and study of innovative medical education tools and technologies, including free open access medical education (FOAMed) and social media. She is the co-founder of NephSIM winner of the 2018 American Society of Nephrology Innovations in Kidney Education contest, co-faulty lead of Renal Fellow Network, Executive Committee member of NephMadness and the Nephrology Social Media Collective, and founder of NephSIM Nephrons – a one-year virtual mentoring program for trainees interested in learning about nephrology. Dr. Farouk serves on the Editorial Board of journals including the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Kidney News, Clinical Transplantation, and the Journal of Nephrology and is a member of committees of the ASN and American Society of Transplantation.

Jennifer Green, MD
Professor of Medicine
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition
Duke University Medical Center
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, NC

Dr. Jennifer Green is a professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition at Duke University and a faculty member of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. Her research has focused upon strategies to treat diabetes mellitus and reduce the risk of cardiovascular, kidney and other diabetes-related complications. Her work with the DCRI has included protocol development, oversight of adjudication committees, and clinical and operational leadership for several large, international trials designed to determine the cardiovascular effects of glucose-lowering medications (TECOS, EXSCEL, and Harmony Outcomes). She currently serves as US coordinating center PI and US national representative for the EMPA-Kidney trial of empagliflozin therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease. Dr. Green has concluded three years of service as a member of the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Professional Practice Committee, which publishes the organization’s annual Standards of Care in Diabetes. She is now a member of the ADA-EASD writing group which recently revised a joint consensus statement on the management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes.

Danya Khoujah, MD, MBBS, MEHP, FACEP, FAAEM
Attending Physician
Department of Emergency Medicine
AdventHealth
Tampa, FL

Dr. Danya Khoujah is an emergency physician with a keen interest in geriatric emergencies and medical education. She completed her EM residency and faculty development fellowship at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and currently practices in Tampa, Florida. She has lectured nationally and internationally on geriatric emergencies with raving reviews and is part of the writing group of the Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines. She is most passionate about simplifying the science to allow healthcare practitioners to better care for their patients, whether seasoned physicians, resident physicians-in-training, medical students, or allied health professionals.

Louis Kuritzky, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor Emeritus
University of Florida School of Medicine
Department of Community Health & Family Medicine
Clinical Faculty, UCF College of Medicine/HCA GME Consortium
Family Medicine Residency Program
Gainesville, FL

Dr. Louis Kuritzky began his academic career as clinical faculty for the UCLA Department of Family Medicine (Los Angeles) in the 1970s. He has been affiliated with the University of Florida (Gainesville) since 1983 and became tenured faculty in the Department of Community Health and Family Medicine in 1988. He currently holds the title of Clinical Assistant Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida and is clinical faculty for the UCF College of Medicine/HCA GME Consortium Family Medicine Residency Program (Gainesville, Florida). His current professional society participation includes the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP). In addition to being board-certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine, he has received certification as a Specialist in Hypertension by the American Society of Hypertension. Dr. Kuritzky has given hundreds of presentations, including domestic and international venues. He is on the editorial board of Internal Medicine Alert, Consultant, Clinical Diabetes, and the International Journal of Impotence Research. He has authored over 150 articles in journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Comprehensive Therapy, Hospital Practice, Consultant, Postgraduate Medicine, Journal of Pain and Palliative Care, and Patient Care.

Clarence W. Legerton III, MD, FACR
Physician Director
Articularis Healthcare
Charleston, SC

Dr. Clarence W. Legerton currently serves as a Physician Director of Articularis Healthcare in Charleston, SC. Dr. Legerton is a native of Charleston, SC, graduated Davidson College (cum laude) in Davidson, NC, and received his M.D. degree from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine followed by Fellowships both in Internal Medicine/Health Promotion and in Rheumatology at Vanderbilt University. While at Vanderbilt, he served as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at Saint Thomas Hospital from 1990-1991. In 1992, Dr. Legerton returned to Charleston to join the faculty at MUSC in the Division of Rheumatology where he was actively involved in graduate education, research, and patient care. He, along with Dr. Julius Sagel, directed the Internal Medicine Core for Junior medical students and he also served as both Vice-President and President of the Medical Staff. His efforts as a teacher and clinician resulted in appointment to the AOA National Medical Honor Society. In 2002, he joined Low Country Rheumatology which has expanded as Articularis Healthcare Group into several southeastern states. Dr. Legerton is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American College of Rheumatology, the Charleston County Medical Society which he served as treasurer, Vice-President, and President, and the South Carolina Rheumatology Society which he has served as Program Chair and President.

Adam C. Stein, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Dr. Adam C. Stein specializes in the evaluation and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders that involve the small bowel, including Crohn's disease, intestinal failure (such as from short bowel syndrome), celiac disease, enteropathy, fat/protein malabsorption, cystic fibrosis, and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Additionally, he sees patients with ulcerative colitis. He performs both video capsule endoscopy as well as double balloon enteroscopy and is able to evaluate abnormal small bowel findings as well as small bowel bleeding. Dr. Stein also specializes in the evaluation and management of malnutrition, providing nutrition through the vein (parenteral nutrition, or "TPN") as well as tube feeding.

C. Wayne Weart, PharmD, FASHP, FAPhA
Professor Emeritus Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcome Sciences
Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy
Professor of Family Medicine
MUSC Department of Family Medicine
Charleston, SC

Dr. Wayne Weart received his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1971 from the University of Georgia. He served his residency in Hospital Pharmacy at the Medical University Hospital in Charleston, SC in 1972. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1974. Dr. Weart is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcome Sciences in the College of Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), as well as Professor of Family Medicine in the College of Medicine, MUSC. Prior to his teaching at the Medical University, Dr. Weart instructed at West Virginia University in pharmacy and family medicine.

Dr. Weart has more than 100 publications and he has given scores of lectures to numerous professional groups and societies. He has received outstanding teacher awards at both West Virginia University and MUSC and has been named Hospital Pharmacist of the Year in both South Carolina and West Virginia.

In 1991, Dr. Weart was among the first pharmacists to become a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. In 1992, he was honored for his excellence in pharmacy practice and designated a Fellow of the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists. Dr. Weart was named a Primary Care Policy Fellow for 1999 by the U.S. Public Health Service and he was honored by the Alumni Association of the MUSC College of Pharmacy as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2002. He also received the Bowl of Hygeia Award from the SC Pharmacy Association in 2003 for outstanding service to the community and the profession of pharmacy and the George D. Schwerin Mentor Award, from the South Carolina Society of Health System Pharmacists in 2004. In 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009, he was recognized by the MUSC College of Pharmacy student body for his excellence in education by the Golden Mortar and Pestle Award. In 2008, the MUSC Board of Trustees named Dr. Weart as a Master Teacher. In 2012 he received the Proctor and Gamble National Leadership Award from the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society. In 2014, he was awarded the Ralph M. Wilkie Distinguished Lifetime Service Award by the SC Pharmacy Association Board of Directors. In 2015, he received the Kenneth Flinchum Distinguished Service Award from the SC Society of Health System Pharmacists. In 2021, he was awarded the James A. McFarland, MD, FACP Award by the SC Chapter of the American College of Physicians for his scholarship and teaching. Dr Weart served on the Board of Directors of the SC Pharmacists Association and as President and Chairman of the Board for 2010-2011. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy from 2009-2013 and President of the Waring Library Society for 2014-2015. He is one of many Hot Dog Ministry volunteers involved with serving the homeless of Charleston.