Academic Leadership

The leadership at St. Martinus University is made up of experienced medical educators, practicing physicians, and academic professionals who understand what it takes to prepare students for clinical practice in the U.S., Canada, and beyond. Their work is rooted in accountability, academic integrity, and long-term student success.

Dr. Sureyya Savasan, MD

Chancellor

Dr. Sureyya Savasan serves as Chancellor of St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine. He is a physician specializing in Hematology and Oncology, with extensive clinical and academic experience in patient care and medical training.

He completed his medical education at Ankara University Hacettepe Universitesi Tip Fakultesi and further advanced his training through programs associated with Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University affiliated hospitals in the United States.

Dr. Savasan is affiliated with leading healthcare institutions including DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan, DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital, DMC Hutzel Women’s Hospital, and DMC Harper University Hospital. His work reflects a continued commitment to clinical practice, physician education, and the development of future medical professionals.

Dr. Danna Soria, MD, MSc, ECFMG Certified

Vice Chancellor, Chair and Professor of Pharmacology

Dr. Danna Soria has been part of St. Martinus University for 19 years, serving with distinction in both academic and leadership roles. She earned her M.D. from UCIMED, Costa Rica, followed by clinical training at Harvard Medical School, Tulane University, and ECFMG certification in 2007.

Holding an MSc in International Management from the University of Liverpool, she leads the Pharmacology department and played a key role in achieving AAEPO accreditation.

Dedicated to mentoring and curriculum development, she bridges science with patient care.

Residing in Curaçao with her family, she values education, integrity, and global learning.

After completing my MBBS at Guntur Medical College, I worked as a Medical Officer at Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and later as a Tutor in Anatomy. My career took me to Trinidad and Tobago (2005–2009) and Guyana, before returning to India to complete an MD in Anatomy at NRI Medical College, followed by a Senior Residency at Siddartha Medical College.

Since 2015, I have served as Assistant Professor of Anatomy at St. Martinus University, where I integrate clinical relevance into teaching and emphasize compassion, curiosity, and critical thinking in training future physicians.

Contacts:

Dr. Ravi Kishor Reddy Vintha, MBBS, M.D.

Dean of Academic Affairs
Chair and Professor, Anatomy/Embryology and Neuroscience

Dr. Mendoza earned his medical degree and a Magister Scientiae in Immunology from the University of Los Andes in Mérida, Venezuela, where he also began his career teaching and researching HPV and cervical cancer. He later completed doctoral studies in Microbiology and Virology at the Institut Pasteur and Paris VII Denis Diderot University in Paris. He went on to lead the Infectious Diseases Department and the Public Health Laboratory in Mérida, publishing over 20 papers and co-authoring two academic books.

Dr. Jose A. Mendoza, M.D., Ph.D.

Dean of Student Affairs
Chair and Professor, Microbiology and Immunology

I earned my medical degree from the Universidad del Zulia in Maracaibo, Venezuela, in 2009 and practiced as a general physician in hospital and private settings before moving into medical education. I now serve as Head of the Integrated Clinical Medicine course in Curaçao, where I emphasize early clinical exposure, active engagement, and the integration of empathy and professionalism into medical training.

Dr. Carla Rodriguez, M.D.

Head of the Integrated Clinical Medicine

Peter H.M. Fontilus earned his Master of Science in Pharmacy from Leiden University in 1976 and soon became Head of Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Quality Control in Curaçao. He later served as Director and Inspector of Pharmaceutical Affairs, and Inspector-General for Public Health until 2011. Since then, he has taught Medical Ethics at St. Martinus University and leads Theriac Consulting. Beyond academics, he enjoys orchids, antique maps, and global current affairs.

Dr. Peter Fontilus

Department of Pharmacology

Dr. Jawaria Majeed

Assistant Professor Pathology and Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM)

Hiba Mohamed earned her MBBS from Nile University in Khartoum, Sudan. She is a dedicated Assistant Professor of Physiology and a licensed General Physician, currently employed at St. Martinus University. With 2 years of experience in assisting medical education and clinical practice, She is passionate about research and continuous medical education. Hiba possesses efficient managerial and teaching skills.

Dr. Hiba Mohamed, MBBS

Assistant Professor of Physiology

I am an ECFMG-certified physician and Assistant Professor at St. Martinus University, teaching Biochemistry and Pathology while mentoring students in exam preparation and clinical reasoning. I earned my MBBS from Tribhuvan University and completed a rotating internship across multiple specialties, building a broad clinical foundation.

Dr. Anand Chaudhary, MBBS

Assistant Professor

Dr. Sethi graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine, completing his clinical rotations in Michigan. At 22, he serves as an Academic Advisor at SMUFOM, mentoring students in NBME and USMLE preparation, with a focus on resilience, disciplined study, and patient-centered care. He has co-authored multiple publications, including The Misdiagnosis Casebook in Clinical Medicine and The Physical and Psychosocial Stressors in Medical Education and Clinical Training.

Dr. Prakrut Sethi

Academic Advisor

I earned my medical degree from Mymensingh Medical College under Dhaka University and gained clinical experience in Nepal. I research dermatological conditions, the autonomic nervous system, and gastrointestinal motility disorders, with publications including Rare Case of Tinea Corporis Bullosa and Thiazide-Induced Acute Interstitial Pancreatitis in a 55-Year-Old Male.

Dr. Kshitiz Pandey

Department of Anatomy and Neurology

Dr. Saleem, Assistant Professor of Histology, Pharmacology, and Introduction to Research at SMU, brings over a decade of experience in biological and health sciences from both academic and clinical settings. He earned his PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia, Canada, where he researched domiciliary oxygen therapy in fibrotic interstitial lung disease, and his MD from the American University of Integrative Sciences.

Dr. Ferhan Saleem

Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology

I was born and raised in Curaçao and earned my medical degree from St. Martinus University in 2024, completing clinical training in Michigan, USA. I now lecture in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Public Health at SMU while practicing as a General Practitioner in Curaçao, and have lived and worked in the USA and the Netherlands. I have contributed to publications including The Misdiagnosis Casebook in Clinical Medicine and The Physical and Psychosocial Stressors in Medical Education and Clinical Training.

Dr. Aemil Edgar Albert Carl Alexander Palm

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Pathology

Dr. Nimit Jain, MD (Netherlands Antilles) is a medical professional with an Executive Postgraduate qualification in Healthcare Management from LIBA. He is currently serving being as a Medical Officer at HCG Cancer Center, Jaipur,India. Alongside his clinical and administrative expertise, He has significant experience in guiding students pursuing medical education abroad, helping them choose the right path for a successful career in medicine.

Dr. Nimit Jain M.D

Dr. Pavankumar Padarthi, M.Pharm, Ph.D.

Director of Academic Research and Development

Our Clinical Faculty & Preceptors

St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine is supported by a dedicated network of
academic faculty and clinical preceptors who provide structured supervision and handson clinical training across core and elective rotations.

Dr. Abdel-Wahab Meri, MD

Internal Medicine
Barclay Internists – Rochester Hills, MI
Clinical Affiliation – Henry Ford Health, Rochester Hills, MI

Dr. Priyesh Patel, MD

Family Medicine
Twin Lake Family Medicine – Bloomfield Township, MI
Clinical Affiliation: Trinity Health Oakland – St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Pontiac, MI

Dr. Adeela Beg, MD

Pediatrics
Adeela Beg, MD, PC – Farmington, MI
Clinical Affiliation: Henry Ford Providence Hospital, Southfield, MI

Dr. Sangita Pradhan, MD

Internal Medicine
Your Physicians PC – Rochester Hills, MI
Clinical Affiliation: Henry Ford Health, Rochester Hills, MI

Dr. Firas Karmo, MD

Plastic Surgery
Karmo Aesthetic Center – Pontiac, MI
Clinical Affiliation: Trinity Health Oakland – St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Pontiac, MI

Dr. Amitha Kakulavaram, MD

Nephrology
Michigan Kidney Consultants – Pontiac, MI
Clinical Affiliations: Trinity Health Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, MI & Henry Ford Rochester
Hospital

Dr. Ashish Verma, MD

Endocrinology
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders Center – Shelby Township, MI
Clinical Affiliation: Corewell Health Troy Hospital, Troy, MI & Henry Ford Health, Rochester
Hills, MI

Dr. Cory Rubin, MD

Dermatology
Michigan Dermatology Institute – Waterford, MI

Dr. Yatinder Singhal, MD

Psychiatry
Havenwyck Hospital – Auburn Hills, MI

Dr. Joseph Gorz, DO

Family Medicine
Neighborhood Family Medicine – Lake Orion, MI

Dr. Julia Aharonov, DO

Anesthesiology
Ketamine Institute of Michigan – Farmington Hills, MI

Dr. Devyani Khambete, MD

Pediatrics
Devyani Khambete, MD, PC – Waterford, MI & Lake Orion, MI

Dr. Sawsan Jamil, MD

Obstetrics & Gynecology
Serenity Obstetrics and Gynecology – Rochester Hills, MI
Clinical Affiliation: Henry Ford Health, Rochester Hills, MI

Dr. Mohamed Saleh, MD

Pediatrics | Family Medicine / Urgent Care
Neu Family Care – Southgate, MI
Clinical Affiliation: Neu Urgent Care – Hazel Park, MI