New providers join WVU Medicine

The following providers joined WVU Medicine in May:

Morgantown

CANCER INSTITUTE

Prashanti Atluri, MD, joins the WVU Cancer Institute as a hematology and oncology physician. Dr. Atluri previously practiced at State University of New York, Stony Brook, and is the former program director at Winthrop University Hospital and East Carolina University. She completed a hematology and oncology fellowship at Winthrop and an internal medicine residency at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Laurel Lyckholm, MD, joins the WVU Cancer Institute as a hematology and oncology physician. Dr. Lyckholm is a former professor of internal medicine and hematology and oncology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and Program in Bioethics and Humanities. She completed a fellowship at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago, a hematology and oncology fellowship at the University of Iowa, and an internal medicine residency at Creighton University.

WVU MEDICINE CHILDREN’S

Jai Udassi, MD, joins WVU Medicine Children’s as chief of pediatric cardiology and director of the cardiovascular intensive care unit at WVU Medicine Children’s Heart Center. Dr. Udassi is a former associate professor of pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. At the University of Florida, he served as the physician lead of the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit, interim chief of cardiac and general intensive care, and associate program director of pediatric cardiology. He is the director of pediatric services at Sidra Heart Center in Doha, Qatar. He completed two fellowships, pediatric cardiology and pediatric critical care medicine, at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida.

Tara Morder, NNP, joins WVU Medicine Children’s a nurse practitioner in the neonatal intensive care unit. She obtained her master’s degree from the University of South Alabama. She previously worked as a registered nurse at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.

DENTISTRY

Stephen Pachuta, DDS, joins WVU Medicine as the new dean of the WVU School of Dentistry. Dr. Pachuta is a retired United States Navy rear admiral. He served as the 37th Chief of the United States Navy Dental Corps and retired from the Navy in December 2017 after 32 years of service. He earned his doctorate degree in dental surgery from WVU. He has also served as the director of health services and medical officer for the Marine Corps. His focus areas of experience include executive, organizational, and strategic leadership and healthcare operations.

HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE

Christopher Mascio, MD, joins the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute and WVU Medicine Children’s as the executive director of the new Children’s Heart Center and division chief of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery in the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Mascio comes to WVU Medicine Children’s from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he served as an attending surgeon in the cardiac center and associate clinical chief of the division of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. He is board certified in cardiothoracic surgery and congenital heart surgery, and performs the full spectrum of congenital heart surgery, including complex newborns and adult congenital operations.

HOSPITAL MEDICINE

Amanda Thoburn, PA-C, joins WVU Medicine as a physician assistant on the hospitalist service at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital. She obtained her master’s degree from Alderson Broaddus University.

SURGERY

Sania Ullah, PA-C, joins WVU Medicine as a physician assistant in the Department of Surgery. She graduated from the University of Charleston’s physician assistant program.

Elkins

HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE

Victoria Cross, FNP, joins WVU Medicine a nurse practitioner in cardiology at Davis Medical Center. She obtained her master’s degree from WVWC School of Nursing in Buckhannon, West Virginia.

Fairmont

PRIMARY CARE

Shalee Shumiloff, PA-C, joins WVU Medicine as a physician assistant at the West Fairmont Clinic. She obtained her master’s degree from Chatham College.

Glen Dale

PEDIATRICS

Sarona Mathware, MD, joins WVU Medicine as a pediatrician at Reynolds Memorial Hospital. She opened and directed Taola Pediatrics in Botswana and then practiced in Yakima, Washington. She completed a pediatric residency at Maimonides Infants and Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn. She holds a degree in exercise physiology from WVU.

Uniontown

CANCER INSTITUTE

Prashanti Atluri, MD, joins the WVU Cancer Institute as a hematology and oncology physician and interim medical director of hematology and oncology at Uniontown Hospital. Dr. Atluri previously practiced at State University of New York, Stony Brook, and is the former program director at Winthrop University Hospital and East Carolina University. She completed a hematology and oncology fellowship at Winthrop and an internal medicine residency at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Wheeling

CANCER INSTITUTE

Bhavana Bhatnagar, DO, joins the WVU Cancer Institute as medical director of hematology and oncology at Wheeling Hospital. Dr. Bhatnagar is a former associate professor of internal medicine in the division of hematology and director of utilization management for the James Cancer Center and Solove Research Center at Ohio State University. He completed a hematology and oncology fellowship at the University of Maryland and an internal medicine residency at The Cleveland Clinic.

For questions or to refer a patient, call 855-WVU-CARE. / Visit WVUMedicine.org/advances for more physician resources.