Speakers

Zena Chahine, Jessica Cupac, Chaitanya Iragavarapu, Gregory Monohan, Reinhold Munker, Ayman Qasrawi, Reshma Ramlal, Yazan Samhouri, Fevzi Yalniz, Musa Yilmaz

Zena Chahine, MD

Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
Division of Hematology/BMT
University Of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Chahine graduated from University of Balamand in Lebanon before completing residency in Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh. Currently a third-year hematology-oncology at University of Kentucky, she will join University of Kentucky as an assistant professor with a clinical focus in plasma dyscrasias.

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Jessica Cupac, PharmD, BCOP

Hematology/BMT Clinical Pharmacist Manager
Markey Cancer Center
University of Kentucky HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky

Originally from Williamsburg, Kentucky, Dr. Jessica Cupac received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from University of the Cumberlands followed by a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy and is now actively pursuing a Master of Business Administration through the Gatton College of Business at University of Kentucky. Dr. Cupac completed two years of residency at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, including one specializing in hematology/oncology, and now practices as a board certified hematology/oncology pharmacist at the UK HealthCare Markey Cancer Center where she serves as the Hematology/BMT Clinical Pharmacist Manager and plays an active role within the hematology, blood and marrow transplant, and cellular therapy programs.

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Chaitanya Iragavarapu, MD

Associate Medical Director
Markey CAR T-Cell Therapy Program
Assistant Professor
Division of Hematology
BMT & Cellular Therapy Program
University of Kentucky
Markey Cancer Center
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Chaitanya Iragavarapu is a member of the Hematology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation (BMT) team at UK HealthCare treating leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, clotting and bleeding disorders.

Dr. Iragavarapu completed his medical training at the Government Stanley Medical College in Chennai, India. He completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at New York Medical College in Valhalla. After completing his fellowship in hematology and medical oncology, he completed an additional fellowship in blood and marrow transplantation at Stanford University.

Dr. Iragavarapu hopes to bring expertise in advanced treatment therapies to patients in Kentucky.

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Gregory Monohan, MD

Interim Chief, Division of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant
Markey Cancer Center
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Gregory Monohan received his medical degree from the University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington. He then completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Indiana University, Indianapolis before returning to the University of Kentucky to complete a Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship.

After finishing the fellowship, Dr. Monohan remained on faculty at the University of Kentucky where his primary focus is in hematologic malignancies including blood and marrow transplantation as well as benign hematology. Since 2011, he has served as the Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program Director. He also serves as Clinical Co-Director for the College of Medicine Hematologic and Lymphatic Systems course.

Dr. Monohan is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology.

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Reinhold Munker, MD

Professor
Division of Hematology/BMT
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky

Reinhold Munker is Professor of Medicine at the University of Kentucky in Lexington where he works in the Division of Hematology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation. He graduated from Medical School in Erlangen (Germany) in 1979. He had research training in Munich, Los Angeles and Houston. His basic science interests are broad (from proliferation of leukemic cells to microRNAs to autoantibodies in cancer). His clinical research spans late effects of cancer treatment to epidemiology and rare types of leukemia. He treats patients with benign and malignant blood disorders and is involved in immunotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Currently he is involved in CAR-T cells for small cell lung cancer. Dr. Munker’s research has resulted in more than 160 publications and 19 books and chapters of books.

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Ayman Qasrawi, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Hematology and Blood Marrow Transplantation Team
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Qasrawi graduated from the Hashemite University College of Medicine in Jordan in 2012. Upon graduation, he received an Award of Academic Achievement and was ranked the 2nd among his class. To further develop his interests in hematology and oncology, he later worked as a transitional resident at King Hussein Cancer Center, which is the largest cancer hospital in Jordan.

In 2015, Dr. Qasrawi joined the internal medicine residency program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Upon graduation, he received multiple awards including the Women of Saint Luke’s Award for 2018 presented by the Saint Luke’s Foundation, Award for Most Productivity in Research and Scholarly Activity in Internal Medicine Residency and the Second Place in Residents’ Research Day.

In June 2018, Dr. Qasrawi joined the hematology and medical oncology fellowship training at the University of Kentucky where he continued to nourish his academic interests in hematology. Upon finishing his training in June 2021, he received multiple Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Hematology and Oncology In-Training Exams as well as a Letter of Achievement from the fellowship training committee for three consecutive years. Dr. Qasrawi has strong clinical and academic interests in acute leukemias and stem cell transplantation. During his training, he presented his research at multiple local and national conferences including the ASH, ASCO, ASTCT, ACG, ATS, and NCCN. He is first author or co-author of 19 peer-reviewed manuscripts and numerous abstracts. His collaborative work in hemophagocytic histiocytosis with the University of Nebraska was awarded the 2020 American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award. In addition, his work in mixed phenotype leukemia was nominated for the 2020 American Journal of Hematology Young Investigator Award.

Beginning July 2020, Dr. Qasrawi joined the Division of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy at the University of Kentucky where he primarily sees patients with myeloid malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myeloid leukemia, and myeloproliferative disorders. In addition, he performs both allogenic and autologous stem cell transplants for patients with myeloid malignancies as well as multiple myeloma and lymphomas. Dr. Qasrawi is also interested in clinical trial development for acute leukemias and other myeloid malignancies.

Dr. Qasrawi is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of ASH, ASCO and ASTCT societies.

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Reshma Ramlal, MD, FACP

Associate Professor
Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida

Dr. Reshma Ramlal clinical interest focuses on the care of patients undergoing allogeneic transplantation for myeloid malignancies. Prior to joining Moffitt, Dr. RamlaI was a Malignant Hematologist and Bone Marrow Transplantation physician at the University of Kentucky, Markey Cancer Center for 8 years. She joined the Markey Cancer Center after completion of her BMT fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. During her time in Kentucky, she served as the Interim Medical Director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy program for two years. She is dedicated to delivering high-quality medical care with compassion and understanding. Dr. Ramlal research interests include methods to mitigate complications of allogeneic transplantation and improve clinical outcomes.

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Yazan Samhouri, MD

Assistant Professor
Division of Hematology and Cellular Therapy
West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Dr. Yazan Samhouri is a physician with AHN Cancer Institute, specializing in hematology and cellular therapy. He is skilled at treating patients who have hematologic and lymphoid malignancies, and various cancers of the blood. He has expertise in therapeutic treatments using bone marrow transplants and immunotherapy methods including CAR-T cell therapy and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

He received his medical degree from University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. Dr. Samhouri was chief medical resident at Rochester Regional Health – Unity Hospital in Rochester, New York. He completed his fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he served as chief fellow.

Dr. Samhouri is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.

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Fevzi Yalniz, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Hematology/BMT
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Fevzi F Yalniz MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine Division of Hematology and Blood Marrow Transplantation at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr Yalniz earned his Medical Degree MD from Hacettepe University College of Medicine IstanbulTurkey. He then completed his residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Hematology at the Istanbul University Cerrahpasa College of Medicine. After his move to the United States he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Department of Hematology and Oncology. He later completed additional clinical fellowships in Stem Cell Transplantation Cellular Therapy and Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr Yalniz's clinical interests include lymphoid and myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, lymphoma myeloproliferative diseases, stem cell transplantation, and cellular therapies for hematologic cancers. Over his career Dr Yalniz received many academic and clinical honors including the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO Merit Award and American Society of Hematology Achievement Award. He authored more than 30 journal articles. He is a current member of the American Society of Hematology and American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.

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Musa Yilmaz, MD

Associate Professor
Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

Dr. Musa Yilmaz received his medical training from Marmara University School of Medicine in Turkey. His residency was completed at the University of TX Medical School in Houston, TX. Dr. Yilmaz then completed fellowships in both Leukemia and Hematology/Oncology at The University of TX MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Baylor College of Medicine; also, in Houston, TX. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Leukemia at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr. Musa Yilmaz has published extensively in the field of leukemia, and particularly, on prospective phase I and II trials of novel therapeutic combinations. He also serves as the Principal Investigator for four, active, clinical trials. Dr. Yilmaz’ primary, research interests have been the role of early response assessment, particularly MRD (Minimal Residual Disease), in patients with acute leukemias and how this information can be used to identify patients at highest risk for relapse and death. In particular, he has published a paper in the American Journal of Hematology on the impact of achieving early MRD negativity in patients with ALL. He has also authored several other papers on the role of MRD in acute leukemias.

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